~\ 


CAPTURING  A  LOCOMOTIVE 


A    HISTORY 

OP 


SECRET    SERVICE 

IN   THE   LATE   WAR. 


BY 

REV.  WILLIAM   PITTENGER. 


"  Storm'd  at  with  shot  and  shell, 
Boldly  they  rode  and  well ; 
Into  the  jaws  of  death, 
Into  the  mouth  of  hell, 
Rode  the  six  hundred. 

*         ***** 
*  They  that  had  fought  so  well 
Came  through  the  jaws  of  death 
Back  from  the  mouth  of  hell, 
All  that  was  left  of  them— 
Left  of  six  hundred." 

TENNYSON'S  Charge  of  the  Light  Brigade 


Copyright,   1881,  by  Rev.   William   Pittenger. 


WASHINGTON: 

THE  NATIONAL  TRIBUNE. 

1905. 


REV.  WILLIAM  PITTENGER. 


CONTENTS. 


I. — A  SECRET  MILITARY  EXPEDITION    .        .  9 

II. — MIDNIGHT  CONSULTATION 27 

III. — COMPANIONS  AND  INCIDENTS     ...        .86 

IV. — A  LOCOMOTIVE  AND  TRAIN  CAPTUBBD    .        .  66 

V. — UNFORESEEN  HINDRANCES         .        .        .        .76 

VI. — A  TERRIBLE  KAILROAD  CHASK          ...  93 

VII. — A  NIQIIT  IN  THE  WOODS  .        .        .        .        .120 

VIII. — IN  TDK  ENEMY'S  POWER 136 

IX. — OTHER  CAPTURES        ......  163 

X. — A  HORRIHLE  PRISON 170 

XI. — LIGHTS  AND  SHADOWS  OF  PRISOH     .        .        .  182 

XII. — THE  FIRST  TRAGEDY 197 

XIII. — A  CONFEDERATE  COURT-MARTIAL    .        .        .  205 

XIV. — THE  CROWNING  HORROR 221 

XV. — PRISON  RELIGION 228 

XVI. — LIBKRTY  OR  DEATH?          .        .        .                 .  244 

XVII. — ROMANTIC  ESCAPES     ......  262 

XVIII. — FROM  ATLANTA  TO  THE  GXTLJT  .                 .        .  274 

XIX. — FROM  ATLANTA  TO  RICHMOND  ....  293 

XX. — LIJJBY  AND  CASTLE  THUNDBR  ...        .        .  808 

XXI. — SICKNESS  AND  LIBERTY      ..."               ,  ??* 


NAMES  OF  THE  ADVENTURERS. 

EXECUTED. 

j    J   ANDUKWB,  Leader.... Citizen  of  Kentucky. 

WILLIAM  CAMPBELL Citizen  of  Kentucky. 

GKORGK  D.  WILSON Co.  B,  Second  Reg  t  Ohio  Vo  .. 

MARION  A  Ross Co.  A,  Second  Reg't  Ohio  Vols. 

>EARK?G   SHABRACK Co  K,  Second  Reg't  Ohio  Vol.. 

ESCAPED  IN   OCTOBER. 

W.  W.  BROWN'  (Engineer)  Co.  F,  Twenty-first  Reg't  Ohio  Vola 

WIT  "AM  KNIGHT*! Co.  E,  Twenty-first  Reg't  Ohio  Vols. 

...Co.  C  Twenty-first  Reg't  Ohio  Vo  s. 

^!S 
^Sssa 

DA.       * . .::::: ......GO.  H,  Thirty-thi 

EXCHANGED  IN   MARCH. 

PARROT*               —Co.  K,  Thirty-third  Reg't  Ohio  Volfl. 
T  BUFFUM"     Co.  H  Twenty-first  Reg't  Ohio  Vo  s. 

LrlM  PiTTKNOKR" Co.  G,  Secon5  Reg't  Ohio  Vol.. 


RESIDENCES  IN   1881. 


i  Perry§burg,  Ohio. 

•  Minnesota. 

•  Carlisle,  Arkansas. 
«  Dead. 

»  Hotklni,  Wood  County,  Ohio. 

•  Topeka,  Kansas. 
'  Unknown. 

•  Jcffcnon,  Wucondm. 


•  Kenton,  Ohio 

10  Dead. 

«  McCombs,  Hancock  Countj,  Ohio. 

«  Unknown. 

1»  Unknown. 

M  Woodbury,  N.  J.  A  member  of  th4 
New  Jersey  Conferenc*  of  th»  McthodM 
KpUcopal  Church. 


CAPTURING  A  LOCOMOTIVE. 


CHAPTER  I. 

A    SECIUdl    MILITARY    EXPEDITION. 

Ad  the  writer  Icoked  up  from  the  manuscript  page 
on  a  svaim  March  afternoon  of  1862,  a  very  busy,  and 
occasionally  an  amuaing  scene  was  presented.  I  was 
seated  on  a  gentle,  wooded  slope  which  led  down  to  the 
clear  and  quiet  stream  of  Stone  River,  in  Tennessee. 
Not  being  at  that  time  "  on  duty/'  I  had  strolled  away 
from  the  tents  which  whitened  the  level  fields  above, 
and  was  passing  an  hour  in  the  pleasant  task  of  pre- 
paring "  war  correspondence"  for  the  Stenbenville  Her- 
ald. Now  and  then  1  lifted  my  eyes  to  watch  the  work 
in  progress  a  few  yards  farther  down  the  stream.  A 
large  bridge,  burned  by  the  enemy  on  their  retreat  a 
few  weeks  before,  was  now  being  rapidly  repaired,  or 
rather  rebuilt.  The  cliief  director  of  the  work  was 
General  O.  M.  Mitchel,  of  astronomical  fame,  in  whose 
division  I  then  served.  He  was  in  every  respect  an 
able  officer,  and  understood  the  construction  of  railroad 
bridges  as  well  as  observing  the  stars,  or  moulding  raw 
recruits  into  veteran  soldiers.  But  all  his  skill  and 
science  did  not  save  him  from  becoming  a  little  ridicu- 
lous at  times.  The  Union  soldier  found  no  difficulty 
in  loving  his  commander  and  laughing  at  him  at  the 
same  instant.  General  Mitchel  was  now  most  impa- 
tient to  complete  this  bridge,  and  thus  maintain  a 

9 


10  CAPTURING  A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

northern  line  of  communication,  while  he  penetrated 
farther  into  the  South.  Being  now,  for  the  first  time, 
possessed  of  an  independent  command,  he  wished  to 
signalize  himself  by  some  great  blow  struck  at  the  most 
vulnerable  point  in  the  enemy's  line.  He  could,  there- 
fore, scarcely  endure  the  necessary  delay  caused  by  burnt 
bridges,  and  worked  like  a  beaver,  and  chafed  and  fret- 
ted, and  caused  the  men  of  his  command  to  perform 
more  hard  labor  than  was  agreeable.  As  I  saw  him 
running  from  place  to  place,  urging  on  the  idlers,  and 
taking  hold  of  any  piece  of  work  that  presented  itself 
as  if  he  had  been  a  common  laborer,  shouting  and  scold- 
ing, but  always  knowing  just  what  ought  to  be  done, 
and  making  surprising  progress,  I  could  not  help  ad- 
miring the  man,  even  while  I  laughed  at  some  exhibi- 
tions of  superfluous  zeal.'  Mitchel's  scientific  educa- 
tion, his  practical  experience,  and  his  inventive  geuias 
stood  him  in  good  stead,  as  was  proved  by  the  rapid 
growth  of  the  bridge  before  me.  The  soldiers  almost 
idolized  their  skilful  and  zealous  commander,  but  this 
did  not  deprive  them  of  the  soldier's  privilege  of  grum- 
bling without  stint  at  his  restless  activity.  He  was  to 
be  found  along  the  guard  lines  at  almost  any  hour  of 
the  night,  and  woe  to  the  sleepy  sentinel  who  failed  to 
give  the  proper  challenge  or  to  "  turn  out"  promptly. 
No  severe  punishments  had  yet  been  inflicted,  but  some 
of  the  indolent  had  been  terribly  frightened,  and  were 
accustomed  to  declare  that  "Old  Mitchel"  had  been 
watching  the  stars  so  long  that  he  could  not  sleep  at 
night  himself,  and  was  not  willing  that  anybody  else 
should  !  But  the  discipline  of  the  troops  steadily  im- 
proved, and  the  hearty  commendation  of  their  com- 
mander, who  knew  how  to  praise  as  well  as  blame, 
made  amends  for  seeming  harshness. 

As  I  watched  the  working-parties,  my  attention  was 
attracted  to  one  strong-looking  soldier  who  was  obvi- 
ously shirking.  Before  many  minutes  General  Mitchel 
saw  him  too.  The  uiau  pretended  to  lift  and  work, 


A   SECRET   EXPEDITION.  \\ 

while  really  doing  nothing,  and  thus  became  a  great 
hindrance,  for  his  example  was  contagious.  Stealthily 
the  general  stole  towards  him,  and  when  T  saw  him  take 
a  piece  of  rotten  wood  in  his  hand  I  looked  for  a  scene. 
It  came.  He  dealt  the  idler  a  sudden  blow  that  cov- 
ered him  all  over  with  rotten  wood,  and  nearly  took  • 
him  from  his  feet,  but  did  him  no  real  injury.  The 
fellow  turned  furiously  to  avenge  himself  on  his  assail- 
ant, but  stood  abashed  when  he  saw  the  face  of  his  com- 
mander, and  heard  the  exclamation,  "  Go  to  work,  you 
lazy  rascal !"  The  spectators  enjoyed  the  man's  look 
of  blank  amazement  greatly,  and  the  work  went  for- 
ward more  promptly  than  ever.  But  in  a  few  moments 
the  tables  were  turned.  Large  framed  masses  of  timber 
were  first  floated  near  the  position  they  were  to  occupy 
in  the  bridge,  at  the  end  of  the  trestle-work,  and  then, 
with  ropes  and  pulleys,  were  slowly  and  painfully 
hoisted  into  place.  One  of  these  was  approaching  the 
perpendicular,  and  the  general,  in  his  eagerness,  ran  to 
the  end  of  a  log,  which  extended  over  the  water,  and 
began  to  encourage  the  laborers  by  loud  cries  of, 
"  Heave,  O !  heave,  O !"  as  they  pulled  at  the  ropes. 
Another  party  of  workmen  passed  by  the  shore  end  of 
the  log  on  which  Mitchel  stood,  carrying  a  load  of 
timber.  Just  as  they  reached  the  log, — the  lazy  man 
among  them,  now  lifting  as  much  as  any  other, — I 
could  not  see  just  how  it  was  done,  but  probably  by  a 
quick  motion  of  the  foot,  the  general's  log  was  turned 
so  suddenly  that  he  had  no  choice  but  to  plunge  in  the 
water.  I  expected  a  fearful  explosion  of  indignation, 
and  perhaps  the  summoning  of  a  guard  to  arrest  the 
offender,  but  was  greatly  surprised  to  see  Mitchel,  as 
soon  as  the  splash  enabled  me  to  see  at  all,  stand  up  in 
the  water,  which  was  not  more  than  two  feet  deep,  and 
without  even  turning  towards  the  shore,  continue  call- 
ing, "  Heave,  O !  heave,  O !"  as  vigorously  as  ever. 
There  was  some  laughing,  but  the  soldiers  had  great 
respect  for  such  coolness  and  presence  of  mind.  The 


12  CAPTURING  A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

general  made  no  effort  to  discover  the  author  of  hia 
sudden  immersion,  though  he  must  have  known  that  it 
was  not  accidental.  " '  Old  Stars'  can  take  a  joke," 
was  the  approving  remark  of  a  soldier  close  to  my 
side. 

I  had  just  finished  reading  to  a  friend  the  newspaper 
article  I  had  been  writing,  when  Captain  Mitchel,  a 
distant  relative  of  the  general's,  and  commander  of  one 
of  the  companies  in  the  Second  Ohio  Regiment, — the 
regiment  in  which  I  served, — came  and  sat  down  by 
me,  and  asked  what  news  I  had  been  writing  to  the 
papers.  This  was  always  a  matter  of  great  interest  to 
the  officers  and  soldiers  of  our  volunteer  armies,  for  the 
public  letter  served  to  give  the  families  at  home  a  great 
deal  of  news,  and  thus  to  fill  out  the  accounts  conveyed 
by  private  letters.  I  read  the  sketch  over  to  him,  and 
it  suggested  a  general  conversation  on  the  prospects  of 
the  war.  These  we  regarded  as  eminently  favorable, 
McClellan  was  about  to  move  towards  Richmond  with 
an  overwhelming  force,  and  we  expected  him  to  easily 
capture  the  rebel  capital.  Buell,  who  had  been  with 
us  in  our  march  through  Kentucky,  had  gone  South- 
west to  join  Grant.  That  they  would,  when  united,  be 
able  to  drive  the  enemy  far  down  the  Mississippi,  even 
if  they  did  not  open  that  river  to  the  Gulf,  seemed 
equally  sure.  But  where  were  we  going,  that  we,  with 
only  ten  thousand  men  and  an  adventurous  general, 
were  being  hurried  Southeast  ?  There  was  no  enemy 
in  our  front  now,  but  we  could  not  continue  to  march 
in  that  direction  very  long  without  finding  foes  enough. 
We  were  striking  directly  between  the  great  armies  of 
the  Rebellion,  and,  if  we  went  on  far  enough,  would 
totally  sever  their  connection.  At  this  point  in  the 
conversation  Mitchel  exhibited  some  constraint,  as  if 
afraid  of  saying  too  much.  I  declared  my  own  opinion, 
which  I  shared  with  the  greater  part  of  the  army,  that 
we  were  bound  for  Chattanooga,  and  possibly  for  At- 
lanta, but  that  the  rebels  would  be  sure  to  run  in  heavy 


A   SECRET  EXPEDITION.  13 

bodies  of  troops  by  rail,  and  give  us  all  the  fighting  we 
wanted  before  reaching  even  the  former  place. 

"  Possibly  they  may,"  said  Mitchel ;  "  but  there  are 
ways  of  looking  out  for  that." 

"  How  ?"  I  asked,  with  interest,  for  I  knew  that  he 
was  usually  well  informed  and  very  intelligent. 

He  smiled,  and  said  that  "  I  might  find  out  some 
time." 

His  manner,  much  more  than  his  words,  piqued  my 
curiosity.  Besides,  there  was  another  matter  I  had  re- 
solved to  question  him  about  at  the  first  opportunity. 
A  few  days  before  several  of  the  best  soldiers  of  our 
regiment  had  suddenly  disappeared.  Four  of  the  miss- 
ing men  were  from  the  company  to  which  I  belonged, 
and  two  others  from  Mitchel's  company.  They  had 
been  seen  in  close  and  apparently  confidential  conversa- 
tion with  the  regimental  officers,  and  then,  without  any 
leave-taking,  were  gone !  No  one  of  the  private  sol- 
diers could  tell  anything  about  their  destination.  In 
a  moment  the  hints  of  Mitchel  connected  themselves,  in 
my  mind,  with  the  absence  of  these  men.  Had  not 
some  secret  enterprise  been  set  on  foot  in  which  they 
were  engaged?  If  there  was  any  such  scheme,  I 
would  like  to  find  it  out,  and,  if  still  possible,  take  a 
part  in  it.  In  addition  to  this  motive  for  curiosity,  one 
of  the  absent  men  was  a  young  cousin  of  mine,  in  whose 
welfare  I  was  deeply  interested. 

"  Mitchel,"  I  said,  turning  sharply  on  him,  "  I  under- 
stand that  Frank  Mills  and  those  other  men  have  been 
seni  into  the  enemy's  lines  to  perform  some  important 
and  dangerous  service.  I  want  you  to  tell  me  all 
about  it." 

As  soon  as  I  uttered  the  words  I  knew  I  was  right. 
Mitchel  was  silent  for  a  moment,  and  then  asked  who 
had  told  me  so  much. 

"  No  matter  about  that,"  I  returned.  "  You  can 
trust  me  fully.  Tell  me  what  you  know." 

"  I  will,"  lie  answered,  "  for  I  am  anxious  about  the 


14  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

boys  myself,  and  want  to  talk  the  matter  over  with 
some  friend.  I  am  not  sure  that  we  did  right  in 
letting  them  go." 

Rising,  we  strolled  up  the  stream  until  we  reached  a 
solitary  place  far  away  from  the  bridge  and  the  noisy 
workmen.  Then  getting  a  seat  on  a  large  rock,  1 
listened  to  Captain  Mitchel's  story.  This  conversation 
is  one  of  the  most  important  epochs  of  my  life.  So 
strange  and  romantic  were  the  particulars  to  which  I 
listened,  that  it  was  difficult  at  first  to  give  them  perfect 
credence. 

Said  Mitchel,  "  Do  you  remember  a  Mr.  Andrews, 
a  Kentuckian,  who  was  about  our  camp  last  fall  ?" 

At  first  I  did  not,  but  a  moment  after,  I  recollected 
seeing  a  fine-looking,  well-dressed  man  standing  on  the 
street-corner  in  the  town  of  Prestonburg,  up  in  the 
mountains  of  Eastern  Kentucky.  He  held  carelessly 
on  his  arm  a  beautiful  Winchester  rifle,  which  I,  in  com- 
mon with  many  others,  had  examined  with  great  admi- 
ration. I  therefore  answered  Mitchel's  question  in  the 
affirmative,  though  I  thought  he  was  beginning  rather 
far  away  from  the  subject  in  hand.  He  continued, — 

"  Some  of  you  maintained  that  he  was  a  rebel  citi- 
zen, and  possibly  a  spy,  who  was  only  pretending  to 
be  a  unionist  because  our  army  was  at  hand." 

I  said  that  such  had  l)een  my  own  opinion  when  I 
first  saw  him,  for  he  was  the  very  ideal  of  a  magnificent 
Southern  gentleman,  but  that  I  had  afterwards  learned 
that  though  he  was  a  spy  and  secret  agent,  it  was  on 
the  Union  side,  and  that  he  was  high  in  the  confi- 
dence of  our  officers,  adding  that  I  had  seen  the  same 
man  in  our  camp  again,  but  had  not  spoken  to  him 
after  the  first  occasion. 

"  Well,"  continued  Mitchel,  "  he  was,  and  is,  a  spy, 
and  has  been  of  great  service  to  us.  But  I  sometimes 
fear  that  we  may  have  trusted  him  a  little  too  far. 
Our  boys  are  now  in  Georgia  with  him." 

I   sprang   up   from   my  seat.     This   was   startling 


A   SECRET  EXPEDITION.  15 

uews.  It  had,  indeed,  been  asserted  by  the  camp-fires 
— where  all  events  are  discussed,  and  where  conjectures 
too  often  pass  for  facts — that  the  missing  men  had 
turned  spies,  but  I  had  scouted  the  idea.  I  thought 
that  at  most  they  might  have  been  sent  on  ahead  of  us 
a  short  distance,  to  seize  some  important  post  in  con- 
nection with  similar  details  from  other  regiments,  and 
supported  by  cavalry.  But  we  were  a  hundred  and 
fifty  miles  from  the  nearest  point  of  the  Georgian  State 
line. 

I  looked  at  my  companion  in  astonishment,  and  ex- 
claimed, "  What  on  earth  are  they  doing  in  Georgia  ?" 

"  Andrews  has  taken  them  there,"  he  said,  "  disguised 
as  Southern  citizens,  with  the  intention  of  capturing  a 
railroad  train.  He  has  also  engaged  a  Southern  man, 
who  is  an  engineer  on  the  same  railroad,  to  run  their 
locomotive,  and  when  they  get  their  train  they  Avill  start 
for  our  line  and  burn  every  bridge  they  pass  over. 
They  will  cut  all  the  telegraph  wires,  and  thus  leave  the 
enemy  in  helpless  rage  behind  them." 

My  imagination  took  fire  at  the  picture  his  few  words 
had  sketched.  A  train  surprised  by  a  handful  of  bold 
men  in  the  heart  of  the  enemy's  territory  ;  the  passen- 
gers and  train  hands  forced  to  get  out  under  threat  of 
instant  death,  and  possibly  a  desperate  fight  before  this 
was  accomplished;  then  the  wires  cut,  so  that  no 
lightning  message  could  be  flashed  ahead ;  the  secret 
confederate — whom  there  might  be  a  show  of  com- 
pelling by  force  to  mount  the  engine — set  to  his  work ; 
the  train  rushing  on  its  way  through  a  hostile  country, 
past  the  towns  and  camps  of  the  enemy,  but  rendered 
secure  by  the  two  elements  of  surprise  and  speed  ;  the 
great  bridges  (like  those  at  Green  and  Stone  Rivers 
and  other  places,  which  had  cost  us  weary  delays  and 
hard  work  in  repairing), — all  these  bursting  into  flames 
OA  they  were  passed,  and  possibly  other  damage  done  be- 
fore the  daring  adventurers  returned  in  triumph  to  our 
own  lines.  I  knew  enough  of  war  to  understand,  at  a 


16  CAPTURING   A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

glance,  the  great  military  importance  of  thus  severing 
railroad  communications,  for  had  I  not  seen  our  whole 
division  brought  to  a  halt,  and  General  Mitchel  ren- 
dered almost  furious  with  impatience  over  a  single 
burnt  bridge?  Besides,  it  required  no  particular  in- 
sight to  reveal  the  immense  moral  effect  upon  an  enemy 
of  such  a  bold  stroke  far  in  the  centre  of  his  territory. 
It  would  tend  to  diffuse  distrust  and  fear  through  all 
the  rebel  armies  if  they  were  thus  made  to  feel  that  no 
place  in  their  whole  country  was  safe  from  the  presence 
and  the  blows  of  a  daring  adversary. 

"  Well,  what  do  you  think  of  it  ?"  said  Mitchel,  as 
he  saw  my  preoccupation. 

"  Why,  it  is  the  grandest  thing  I  ever  heard  of!" 
was  my  enthusiastic  reply.  "  I  wish  I  was  with  them. 
But  do  you  think  that  spy  can  be  trusted  ?  Spies  are 
all  the  time  betraying  the  confidence  of  one  party  or 
the  other,  and  if  he  should  be  false  to  us,  he  has  the 
lives  of  our  boys  in  his  hands.  I  have  heard  that  he 
has  been  over  the  lines  several  times,  and  if  he  has 
been  a  secret  rebel  all  the  while,  it  would  be  a  nice 
stroke  of  business  for  him  to  lead  down  a  party  of  our 
best  men  and  deliver  them  to  the  rebels." 

"  I  have  no  fear  of  the  fidelity  of  Andrews,"  said 
Mitchel.  "  He  has  been  too  well  proved.  But  I  am 
not  so  sure  that  he  will  be  able  to  carry  through  all 
that  he  has  undertaken,  or  that  our  boys  can  preserve 
their  disguise  until  they  reach  the  right  point  and  are 
ready  for  the  blow.  If  they  should  be  detected  while 
pretending  to  be  rebels,  it  is  not  at  all  unlikely  that 
they  will  be  treated  as  spies  and  hung  up.  I  wish  they 
were  back  in  camp  again.  But  if  they  get  through  all 
right  and  burn  the  bridges,  we  will  make  for  Chatta- 
nooga as  fast  as  our  legs  can  carry  us.  This  is  one  of 
the  reasons  that  makes  the  general  so  anxious  to  have 
that  bridge  done.  If  we  should  hear  to-morrow,  as 
we  may  at  any  moment,  that  those  Southern  bridges 
are  smashed,  it  would  be  a  race  for  Chattanooga  witb 


A   SECRET  EXPEDITION.  17 

all  the  odds  in  our  favor.  But  you  must  not  breathe 
a  word  of  this  to  one  of  the  soldiers,  or  especially 
write  of  it  to  the  papers,  or  to  any  of  the  relatives  of 
the  poor  fellows,  till  they  are  back  with  us, — if  they 
ever  come  back  !  Give  me  your  candid  opinion,  was 
it  right  to  let  them  take  such  a  risk  ?" 

Without  the  slightest  hesitation  I  declared  that  it 
was  right,  giving  the  reasons  that  seemed  most  weighty. 
War  is  full  of  risks.  In  an  obscure  skirmish,  or  by  a 
chance  shot  from  the  picket-line,  the  most  valuable  life 
may  be  put  out.  Now,  if  by  a  little  additional  risk  a 
few  men  can  do  the  work  of  thousands, — the  work  that 
if  done  in  the  ordinary  mode  would  certainly  cost  a 
score  times  as  many  lives  as  are  imperilled, — the  risk  is 
worth  taking.  Of  course,  it  would  not  be  right  to  send 
men  on  such  an  enterprise  without  their  consent,  bul 
in  the  Union  army  it  was  never  necessary  to  force  men 
into  any  dangerous  enterprise.  Volunteers  were  always 
plenty  enough. 

I  asked,  further,  how  many  men  were  engaged,  and 
learned  with  additional  astonishment  that  the  detach- 
ment from  our  own  regiment — only  eight  men — was 
all.  This  force  seemed  totally  inadequate  to  the  great- 
ness of  the  work,  but  I  understood  that  the  risk  of 
detection  would  multiply  with  the  increase  of  numbers. 
The  very  smallest  number  that  could  serve  was,  there- 
lore,  selected.  If  they  succeeded,  few  were  better  than 
many. 

After  a  long  conversation,  Mitch  el  and  I  returned  to 
the  working-party  down  the  river.  The  burnt  rem- 
nants of  the  old  railroad  bridge  and  the  rapidly  rising 
timbers  of  the  new  had  now  a  deeper  interest  than 
ever.  The  completion  of  this  bridge  and  the  burning 
of  some  others  far  in  the  South  were  the  two  events 
for  which  that  whole  division,  whose  tents  dotted  the 
meadows  behind  us,  was  unconsciously  waiting.  My 
head  was  full  of  conjectures  and  plans  as  I  walked 
back  through  tin-  twilight  to  join  my  messmates  in  the 
6  2* 


18  CAPTURING  A   LQ9OMOTIVB. 

tent  I  could  talk  to  no  one  of  what  I  had  heard,  but  as 
I  lay  awake  that  night  a  most  important  resolution  took 
shape.  I  was  weary  of  the  slow  movement  of  the 
army,  and  of  the  monotony  of  a  private  soldier's  ser- 
vice. While  trying  carefully  to  do  all  my  duty,  and 
winning  a  fair  degree  of  approval  from  my  officers,  I 
yet  had  no  taste  for  military  affairs.  If  by  a  little 
extra  hazard  I  could  do  more  for  the  country,  while 
getting  rid  of  distasteful  routine  and  entering  into 
a  new  sphere  of  work,  I  was  more  than  willing  to 
accept  all  the  hazard  involved.  It  was  too  late  to 
take  part  in  the  present  attempt,  but  I  resolved  to  be 
prepared  for  any  opportunity  of  the  kind  that  might 
again  offer. 

Accordingly,  in  the  forenoon  of  the  next  day  I  went 
up  to  regimental  headquarters  and  told  Colonel  L.  A. 
Harris,  of  the  Second  Ohio,  that  I  had  a  favor  to  ask 
of  him.  Major  (since  General)  Anson  G.  McCook,  in 
whose  company  I  had  served  during  the  first  three 
months  of  the  war,  was  also  present.  I  told  them  I 
had  ascertained  that  some  of  our  men  had  been  sent 
out  on  secret  service  lately,  and  that  if  any  similar  de- 
tails should  be  made  in  the  future,  I  wanted  the  oppor- 
tunity of  being  included.  Major  McCook,  while  saying 
some  kind  things  about  me,  intimated  a  doubt  whether 
ray  defective  vision — I  was  very  near-sighted — might 
not  be  a  hindrance  on  any  perilous  service.  Colonel 
Harris,  however,  took  a  different  view  of  the  matter, 
saying  he  thought  that  if  I  dressed  in  citizen's  clothes, 
and  wore  my  spectacles  (as  I  was  accustomed  to  do  even 
in  the  ranks),  no  person  in  the  South  would  suspect  me 
of  being  a  soldier,  and  I  was  thus  only  the  better  fitted 
for  any  secret  service.  McCook  did  not  press  his  ob- 
jection, and  after  learning  the  reason  for  my  request 
and  trying  in  vain  to  find  the  source  of  my  informa 
tion,  Colonel  Harris  said, — 

"  Pittenger,  I  don't  know  that  we  will  ever  send  ar 
more  rwen  out  of  camp  in  this  manner,  but  I  will  jr  t 


A   SECRET  EXPEDITION.  19 

my  promise  that  if  we  do,  you  shall  be  the  first  man 
called  upon." 

This  was  perfectly  satisfactory.  I  returned  to  my 
duty,  and  in  the  routine  of  camp-life  waited  for  severa' 
days  in  impatient  anxiety.  I  dreamed  at  night  of 
burning  bridges  and  startling  adventures.  Duty  on 
picket  and  in  the  camp  lines,  however,  with  other  ex- 
citements, began  to  weaken  the  impression,  as  day  after 
day  rolled  by  with  no  recurrence  of  the  subject.  Bui 
one  day  it  was  told  me  by  a  friend  that  one  of  the  miss- 
ing men,  a  member  of  Company  C,  was  back  again  in 
his  usual  place  in  line.  For  some  time  attempts  to  get 
him  to  say  where  he  had  been,  and  whether  alone  or  in 
company,  were  in  vain.  He  would  speak  no  word  by 
which  any  one  could  divine  the  nature  of  his  errand 
while  away  from  us,  or  the  degree  of  success  he  had 
met  with.  I  was  much  disquieted  by  his  return  alone, 
but  having  no  special  acquaintance,  I  did  not  like  to 
try  to  get  any  information  directly  from  him.  But  I 
soon  learned  that  he  had  gone  as  far  as  Chattanooga 
and  had  turned  back, — some  of  his  comrades  after- 
wards thought  because  he  became  so  sensible  of  the 
difficulties  of  his  attempt  that  he  resolved  to  go  no 
further  in  it, — a  determination  which  he  had  a  perfect 
right  to  make,  and  which  in  no  way  impugned  his 
character  as  a  soldier.  His  own  explanation,  after- 
wards given,  which  I  saw  no  reason  to  doubt,  was  more 
dramatic.  He  said  that  he  had  gone  in  disguise  as  far 
as  Chattanooga,  but  had  there  been  recognized  by  ? 
rebel  soldier,  who  was  an  old  acquaintance,  and  who 
knew  that  he  belonged  to  the  Union  army.  This  man 
hsard  him  telling  his  false  story  in  a  public  place  with- 
out contradicting  him,  but  as  soon  as  he  could  do  so 
unobserved,  drew  him  aside  and  declared  that  he  re- 
membered him,  and  knew  he  was  down  there  disguised 
for  some  bad  purpose ;  but  that  if  he  would  pledge 
himself  to  return  immediately  to  the  Union  lines,  he 
would,  for  the  sake  of  their  former  friendship,  refrain 


20  CAPTURING  A  LOCOMOTIVE. 

from  denouncing  him,  otherwise  his  own  sense  of  duty 
would  require  him  to  report  all  he  knew  to  the  com- 
mander of  the  post.  Under  such  circumstances  our 
comrade  judged  it  most  prudent  to  give  and  keep  the 
pledge  required. 

At  length  the  bridge  over  Stone  River  was  com- 
pleted, and  there  was  great  rejoicing  as  the  first  train, 
laden  with  army  supplies,  passed  over  it  from  Nash- 
ville. Next  morning  the  order  was  given  to  the  whole 
division  to  prepare  three  days'  rations.  This  was  in- 
variably the  signal  for  a  decided  movement.  Our  lost 
comrades  were  still  away,  and  no  word  had  reached  the 
rank  and  file  of  the  army  of  any  unusual  occurrence 
southward.  The  uneasiness  of  General  Mitchel  and 
the  regimental  officers  of  the  Second  Ohio,  and  espe- 
cially of  Captain  Sarratt,  who  commanded  the  company 
to  which  I  belonged,  and  my  friend,  Captain  Mitchel, 
was  apparent  to  any  careful  observer. 

Just  before  the  march  began,  while  we  were  standing 
in  line  early  the  next  morning,  with  the  camp  all 
broken  up,  our  knapsacks  swung,  and  our  haversacks 
filled  with  rations,  waiting  only  for  the  word  "  for- 
ward," Captain  Mitchel  came  over  to  me  and  uttered  a 
sentence,  in  a  half  whisper,  that  went  through  me  like 
an  electric  shock.  His  message  was  simply  this  :  "  Mills 
is  back,  and  has  gone  up  to  headquarters  to  report." 
While  standing  in  my  place  in  the  ranks  I  could  give 
no  answer,  nor  could  I  ask  any  question,  but  my  mind 
was  full  of  surmises.  Had  the  adventurers  succeeded, 
and  were  we  now  on  our  way  to  do  our  part  in  tho 
great  plan, — to  strike  swift  and  far  into  the  South, 
while  the  enemy's  communications  were  broken  ?  That 
would  involve  hard  fighting  and  stirring  scenes  not  far 
ahead.  Had  they  failed?  If  so,  there  would  prob- 
ably be  other  attempts, — that  is,  if  the  secret  had  been 
kept, — and  then  I  would  have  a  part  in  the  risk  and 
the  adventure.  At  any  rate,  I  was  exceeding  glad  of 
Mjlla's  return,  and  I  knew  that  I  would  find  out  all 


A  SECRET  EXPEDITION.  21 

about  it  as  soon  as  I  could  get  to  talk  with  him  alone. 
As  Company  K — Mitchel's — was  next  uiy  own  in  the 
line,  that  opportunity,  even  uii  the  march,  would  not 
be  long  delayed. 

ISoon  the  command  to  march  was  given,  and  the 
column  moved  southward  towards  Shelby ville,  about 
twenty-five  miles  distant.  Before  noon  I  dropped 
out  of  my  place,  sought  and  found  Mills,  and  as  we 
plodded  along,  in  the  loose  order  allowed  on  long 
inarches,  we  had  no  difficulty  in  remaining  together, 
and  yet  far  enough  from  other  soldiers  to  talk  iu 
perfect  security.  The  whole  history  of  my  relative's 
adventures  was  fully  laid  open  before  me.  I  found 
that  all  Mitchel  had  narrated  was  perfectly  accurate, 
but  the  enormous  obstacles  to  be  encountered  by  such 
an  expedition  were  now  brought  much  more  plainly 
into  view.  Mills  said  that  he  and  his  companions  had 
first  of  all  exchanged  their  uniforms  for  citizen's  clothes, 
and  made  provision  for  the  safety  of  their  arms  and 
personal  effects  in  the  camp.  Then,  under  the  direction 
of  Andrews,  they  had  scattered  in  the  mountains,  to 
the  eastward  of  our  camp,  representing  themselves  as 
refugees  from  the  oppressions  of  the  Union  troops  in 
Kentucky,  and  had  journeyed  thus  to  Chattanooga. 
That  town  had  been  reached  in  about  four  days.  My 
friend  pictured  in  lively  colors  the  manner  in  which 
he  had  been  compelled  to  verbally  abuse  the  Union 
cause,  and  join  in  praise  of  the  leaders  and  principles 
of  Secession.  The  squad  to  which  he  belonged  had  no 
particular  difficulty  in  passing  themselves  as  good 
rebels.  The  man  who  first  returned  had  been  less 
fortunate.  A  i  Chattanooga  they  took  passage  on  the 
cars  for  Atlanta,  and  in  due  time  reached  that  place, 
where  they  scattered  themselves  among  the  several 
hotels  and  lived  plentifully  (they  had  an  abundant 
supply  of  money)  for  three  days  longer.  Each  hour 
Andrews  anticipated  the  arrival  of  that  Confederate 
engineer  of  whom  Mitchel  had  spoken  to  me.  But  he 


22  CAPTURING  A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

did  not  come.  All  possible  inquiries  were  guard**!))? 
made  concerning  him,  for  it  was  not  safe  to  appear  too 
inquisitive. 

"  How  did  you  feel  while  thus  waiting  in  suspense  ?" 
[  asked. 

"  I  felt  as  if  I  wanted  to  be  back  in  camp,  and  had 
no  business  to  be  in  that  town  any  longer,"  replied 
Frank.  "  To  hear  the  curses  and  threats  made  against 
everything  that  belonged  to  the  Union,  and  to  be 
obliged  to  keep  perfectly  quiet,  or  to  agree  witli  them, 
was  more  than  I  could  easily  endure.  And  the  folks 
about  the  hotel  were  more  anxious  every  day  to  know 
who  I  was,  and  I  had  to  tell  them  lies  without  number. 
I  resolved  not  to  stand  it  much  longer." 

"  Were  you  really  afraid  of  being  found  out, 
Frank?"  I  queried.  "Did  you  consider  yourself  in 
much  danger?" 

With  great  emphasis  he  answered,  "  No  money  could 
hire  me  to  put  myself  hi  such  a  position  again.  I 
would  have  run  away  if  we  had  been  obliged  to  stay 
much  longer." 

This  man  was  as  brave  as  any  human  being.  I  had 
seen  him  perfectly  cool  and  serene  under  circumstances 
of  great  danger,  when  every  one  else  in  the  company 
betrayed  some  sign  of  fear.  I  did  not  suspect  him  of 
exaggerating  the  perils  of  the  situation  in  which  he 
was  placed,  and,  having  a  deep  personal  interest  in  the 
matter,  I  put  the  question  bluntly, — 

"  If  men  should  be  wanted  to  try  this  thing  again, 
would  you  not  go  ?" 

"  Never !"  was  the  unequivocal  response.  "  If  An- 
drews and  Mitchel  want  bridges  burned,  they  can  go 
themselves  and  burn  them !  I  will  do  my  duty  as  a 
soldier,  but  as  to  going  out  among  those " 

7  O  O  O 

The  terms  applied,  and  the  energy  given  to  the  ac- 
companying description  of  the  horror  of  being  alone 
among  blood-thirsty  enemies,  feeling  that,  sleeping  or 
waking,  a  rope  was  around  one's  neck,  just  ready  to  be 


A   SECRET  EXPEDITION.  23 

tightened  on  the  utterance  of  a  single  careless  word, 
it  is  not  necessary  to  transcribe  here. 

"  But  why  did  not  that  man  come  to  help  you?  Did 
you  find  out  anything  about  him?" 

"  Andrews  told  us,  on  the  third  day  after  we  had 
reached  Atlanta,  that  he  had  heard  through  some  of 
the  railway  officials  that  the  engineer  had  been  trans- 
ferred to  the  Mobile  and  Ohio  Railroad  to  help  in  run- 
ning troops  to  Corinth"  (this  was  a  short  time  before 
the  battle  of  Shiloh).  "  But  my  own  opinion  is  that 
the  man  got  scared  and  had  himself  transferred  there 
to  get  out  of  a  bad  scrape." 

"  But  how  did  Andrews  take  this  disappointment  ?" 

"  He  was  very  much  cast  down.  He  asked  ouch  of  us 
if  we  had  ever  been*  engineers  or  firemen.  But  no  one 
had  ever  occupied  such  a  position.  He  hated  terribly 
to  give  itp ;  but,  as  nothing  more  could  be  done,  he  at 
last  told  us  we  might  work  our  way  back  to  camp." 

"  Where  are  the  other  boys  ?" 

"  I  suppose  they  are  on  their  way.  It  was  harder 
getting  back  than  going  down.  Everybody  seemed 
to  think  it  natural  for  us  to  be  going  South ;  but 
we  had  to  make  all  kind  of  excuses  for  '  heading  the 
wrong  way/  as  they  called  it.  We  had  to  scatter 
to  avoid  observation,  and  travel  part  of  the  way  by 
night ;  and  if  some  of  them  are  not  discovered  and 
either  put  into  the  rebel  army  or  hung,  I  will  be  very 
glad." 

"  Do  you  think  Andrews  will  now  give  up  the  job 
of  burning  those  bridges,  or  will  he  try  again  ?" 

"  If  he  can  get  men  to  go,  you  may  be  sure  he  will 
keep  at  it  until  he  succeeds  or  dies.  But  I  would  never 
go  again  or  advise  any  one  else  to  do  so.  Why,  he  said 
he  would  stay  down  several  days  after  we  left  and  make 
a  complete  survey  of  the  line,  for  the  very  purpose  of 
trying  over  again." 

"  What  do  you  think  of  Andrews  himself?  Can  he 
he  trusted  ?" 


24  CAPTURING  A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

"  Yes ;  he's  as  true  as  steel,  and  very  smart.  But  1 
am  afraid  he  will  venture  a  little  too  far,  both  for  him- 
self and  for  those  with  him,  one  of  these  days." 

I  have  omitted  the  many  striking  incidents  that  Mills 
narrated  to  me  in  the  course  of  this  conversation,  which 
was  more  interesting  to  me  than  any  romance,  because 
adventures  very  similar  in  their  general  character  to 
those  he  described  will  be  fully  narrated  in  another 
place. 

I  found  my  way  back  to  my  proper  place  in  the  regi- 
ment, feeling  sure  that  another  attempt  to  deshoy  the 
Southern  communications  would  be  made,  in  which  I 
must  engage  if  I  did  not  positively  "  back  out"  ;  con- 
vinced, also,  that  it  would  involve  hard  labor,  much 
peril,  and,  even  with  these,  groat  risk  of  failure. 

The  next  day  others  of  the  Andrews  party  '-eturned 
to  us,  and  corroborated  the  accounts  given  by  Mills. 
The  day  following  the  remainder  arrived  in  safety. 
They  were  all  glad  to  get  back,  and  were  unanimous 
in  declaring  that  they  would  not  again  venture  dis- 
guised into  the  enemy's  country  under  any  circum- 
stances. They  spoke  very  sparingly  about  their  ex- 
periences, for  the  officers  had  cautioned  them  to  say 
but  little,  in  view  of  the  possibility  of  a  new  venture 
of  the  same  character. 

On  Saturday  evening,  the  5th  of  April,  we  camped 
on  the  banks  of  Duck.  River,  in  some  pleasant  meadows 
about  a  mile  from  the  town  of  Shelbyville.  The  next 
day  was  delightful.  The  spring  of  1S62  opened  very 
early,  and  now  the  meadows  were  verdant  and  the 
bircis  singing.  The  calm,  quiet,  and  beauty  of  that 
Sabbath,  with  the  white  tents  dotting  the  level  fields, 
and  the  soldiers  luxuriating  in  one  day  of  rest  after  the 
hard  march,  which  had  been  rendered  more  fatiguing 
by  the  accompaniments  of  rain  and  mud,  form  a  very 
pleasant  picture  in  memory.  The  next  Sabbath  came 
to  me  under  entirely  different  circumstances.  I  felt 
the  pressure  of  a  vague  melancholy  resting  upop  me,— 


A   SECRET  EXPEDITION.  26 

possibly  it  was  only  that  pensive  feeling  often  inspired 
by  a  fresh,  bright,  and  quiet  day  in  early  spring ;  pos- 
sibly the  faint  shadow  of  coining  evil.  I  devoted  the 
greater  part  of  the  day  to  writing  letters  to  friends  and 
newspapers, — the  last  I  wrote  for  weary  months.  On 
tins  same  day — though  we  knew  it  not  till  afterwards — 
began  the  great  battle  of  Shiloh,  or  Pittsburg  Landing, 
one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  west  of  us. 

On  Monday  Andrews  himself  returned  to  our  lines, 
and  asked,  as  I  had  anticipated,  for  permission  to  renew 
his  enterprise.  He  had  spent  several  days  along  the 
line  of  the  Western  and  Atlantic  Railroad,  learning  the 
number  of  trains,  their  times  of  running,  and  evei/- 
thing  else  likely  to  be  useful.  He  had  then  started  tor 
camp,  and  being  provided  with  passes,  so  that  he  could 
take  the  most  direct  road,  besides  being  well  mounted, 
he  came  in  almost  as  soon  as  the  private  soldiers  who 
started  much  sooner. 

But  not  one  of  the  first  party  would  return.  They 
were  tired  of  feeling,  as  one  of  them  expressed  it,  that 
their  necks  depended  upon  a  lie.  Like  Schiller's  diver, 
they  had  plunged  once  into  the  abyss  and  returned  in 
safety ;  but,  unlike  that  venturous  youth,  they  would 
not  make  the  second  and  fatal  trial. 

The  new  expedition,  as  proposed  by  Andrews,  differed 
in  three  particulars  from  the  first.  He  wanted  a  larger 
force, — twenty-four  men  instead  of  eight.  He  had  seen 
that  it  was  possible  to  carry  a  considerable  number  of 
men  in  disguise  to  the  scene  of  action,  and  the  number 
now  requested  was  none  too  large  for  the  capture  of  a 
full  railway  train  or  the  overpowering  of  guards  at  im- 
portant bridges.  He  also  wanted  some  engineers  to  be 
detailed,  in  order  that  no  mishap  might  leave  them 
without  the  power  of  running  their  train.  Five  were 
secured,  thus  leaving  an  ample  margin,  as  it  was  be- 
lieved, for  the  possibility  of  capture  on  the  way  down, 
or  of  death  by  the  enemy's  bullets  in  the  hour  of  con- 
flict. It  thus  became  an  enterprise  completely  fitted 


2(J  CAPTURING  A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

out  in  Federal  lines,  without  any  reliance  on  help  from 
the  South.  The  third  point  of  difference  was  of  more 
importance  than  a  casual  glance  revealed.  The  first 
expedition  had  an  abundance  of  time.  A  week's  delay, 
even  after  the  soldiers  were  in  the  enemy's  country, 
would  have  involved  no  risk,  save  that  of  discovery, — 
would,  indeed,  have  been  an  advantage,  as  it  would 
allow  less  time  for  the  repair  of  damages  done  to  the 
Southern  railroads  before  Mitchel's  arrival  at  Chatta- 
nooga. But  now  it  was  different.  The  whole  division 
was  ready  to  advance,  its  course  being  clearly  indicated 
to  the  enemy,  and  moments  became  precious.  By 
making  the  utmost  speed  it  was  still  possible  to  have 
the  bridges  burned  at  the  right  time,  but  every  hour's 
delay  would  render  the  work  more  difficult,  and  its  suc- 
cess more  uncertain.  The  bearing  of  this  question  of 
time  will  be  made  painfully  apparent  in  our  story. 

General  Mitchel  received  the  report  of  Mr.  Andrews 
(which  also  embraced  all  the  information  the  most  skil- 
ful spy  could  have  brought  concerning  the  nature  and 
disposition  of  the  enemy's  forces),  approved  his  prudence 
in  ordering  the  return  of  the  soldiers,  and  sanctioned 
the  second  attempt.  He,  however,  advised  caution, 
saying  that  Andrews  must  not  strike  unless  he  saw  a 
good  prospect  of  success ;  but  he  made  no  objection  to 
the  increase  of  force,  provided  volunteers  could  be  ob- 
tained. It  was  easy  to  secure  the  five  engineers  asked 
for  without  going  beyond  the  limits  of  the  three  Ohio 
regiments  composing  General  Sill's  brigade.  Of  the 
detail  as  finally  made  oat,  nine  men  belonged  to  the 
Twenty-first,  eight  to  the  Thirty-third,  and  seven  to 
^PS  Second  Ohio  Regiments. 


MIDNIGHT  CONSULTATION.  27 


CHAPTER  II. 

MIDNIGHT  CONSULTATION. 

ON  Monday,  April  7,  while  I  was  inside  my  tent 
angaged  in  some  of  the  little  details  of  work  which  oc- 
cupy a  soldier's  time  in  camp,  a  comrade  pulled  open 
the  canvas  door  and  called  out, — 

"  Pittenger,  Captain  Sarratt  is  looking  for  you." 

I  went  out  and  met  the  captain,  and  together  we 
walked  up  the  street  formed  by  the  two  rows  of  tents 
to  the  larger  tent  occupied  by  the  company  officers, 
which  stood  across  the  street  at  the  upper  end.  He 
took  me  inside,  and  then  said,  with  a  sigh, — 

"  Colonel  Harris  has  just  sent  me  word  that  you  are 
to  go  with  Andrews  down  to  Georgia.  I  do  not  know 
why  he  has  selected  you,  but  I  advise  you  not  to  go. 
You  have  perfect  liberty  to  refuse." 
•  I  told  him  that  so  far  from  refusing  my  mind  wTas 
fully  made  up  to  accept,  and  that  I  had  already  ar- 
ranged with  Colonel  Harris  to  that  effect.  Sarratt  waa 
surprised  to  hear  this,  but  urged  every  argument  in  his 
power  to  dissuade  me ;  telling  me  that  the  safe  return 
of  the  four  who  had  been  out  on  the  former  expedition 
had  lifted  a  great  burden  from  his  heart ;  but  that  if  I 
went,  it  would  be  no  better  than  before.  I  was  deeply 
moved  by  his  evident  concern,  but  had  gone  too  far  to 
retract.  I  asked  if  any  other  member  of  our  company 
was  to  go.  He  answered  in  the  negative,  saying  that 
he  understood  that  but  one  from  each  company  was  to 
be  detailed.  Finding  persuasion  in  vain,  he  gave  me 
a  pass  to  Shelbyville,  where  I  could  see  Andrews  and 
procure  all  necessaries  for  the  journey.  I  left  him, 
impressed  by  the  kindness  of  the  man,  which 


28  CAPTURING  A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

led  him  to  regard  the  soldiers  under  his  command  a> 
children,  for  whose  welfare  he  felt  himself  in  a  great 
degree  responsible. 

No  one  of  my  comrades  yet  knew  of  the  intended 
expedition.  In  the  afternoon  I  took  a  friend  with  me 
and  strolled  into  Shelbyville,  a  well-built  village  of  a 
few  hundred  inhabitants,  and  purchased  some  articles 
of  clothing,  but  was  not  able  to  find  a  complete  suit. 
A  number  of  persons  were  engaged  in  making  similar 
purchases — among  others,  the  sergeant-major  of  our 
regiment,  Marion  Ross.  By  watching  the  character 
of  his  purchases  and  by  a  few  careful  questions,  I  found 
that  his  business  was  the  same  as  my  own.  No  side- 
arms  could  be  found,  but  I  knew  that  all  lack  in  that 
direction  could  easily  be  supplied  in  camp.  Getting 
away  from  all  other  company,  Ross  and  I  strayed 
through  the  town  for  some  time,  keeping  a  sharp  look- 
out, until,  at  length,  we  saw  Andrews.  His  striking 
personal  appearance  made  it  easy  to  recognize  him,  and, 
approaching,  we  told  him  that  we  were  ordered  to  re- 
port to  him.  After  scrutinizing  us  a  moment,  and  ask- 
ing us  the  company  and  rank  we  held,  he  told  us  that 
it  would  not  be  prudent  to  talk  much  in  so  public  a' 
place,  but  to  overtake  him  after  dark  a  mile  or  more 
east  of  Shelbyville,  on  the  road  toward  Wartrace,  and 
he  would  there  give  us  full  explanations,  and  allow  us 
to  return  to  our  regiments  if  not  satisfied  with  hi? 
plans.  With  these  few  words  we  parted  from  him,  and 
went  back  to  our  tents  for  final  arrangements.  I  bor- 
rowed the  additional  clothing  I  needed  from  one  of  the 
former  adventurers.  All  my  arms  and  equipments  J 
put  carefully  in  order,  packed  my  uniform  in  my  knap- 
sack to  be  left  in  the  care  of  the  proper  authorities,  ar- 
rayed myself  in  citizen's  clothes,  and  stepped  out  of  my 
tent.  The  soldiers  who  were  idling  around  passed  the 
word  to  their  comrades  who  were  in  their  tents,  read- 
ing, playing  cards,  or  amusing  themselves  in  the  various- 
ways  incident  to  camp-life,  and  soon  almost  the  who  It 


MIDNIGHT   CONSULTATION.  29 

company — indeed,  all  who  were  not  absent  on  guard 
duty — thronged  around  and  commenced  all  kinds  of 
questions.  "  Pittenger,  going  to  desert?  Going  home ? 
Going  out  as  a  spy  ?  Got  a  discharge  ?  Grot  a  fur- 
lough ?" — were  a  few  of  the  inquiries  that  rained  from 
every  quarter.  At  the  same  time  I  heard  it  asserted 
that  several  other  men  were  dressing  up  in  the  same 
manner.  I  answered  all  questions  in  the  affirmative, 
and  stepped  over  to  the  company  street  adjoining  our 
own — that  of  Company  K — and  sought  the  tent  in 
which  Frank  Mills  messed.  He  had  a  very  good  re- 
volver which  I  wanted  to  borrow.  As  I  entered,  he 
read  the  situation  in  a  glance. 

"  So,  you  are  going  with  Andrews." 

I  nodded,  and  hastened  to  add,  "  I  want  your  re- 
volver." 

"  You  are  welcome  to  the  revolver,  but  if  you  know 
when  you  are  well  off  you  will  stay  where  you  are. 
Because  I  was  fool  enough  to  go,  it  does  not  follow 
lhat  you  need  be." 

I  did  not  argue  the  question,  but  he  saw  that  it  was 
•settled,  and  he  gave  me  the  weapon,  with  a  liberal  sup- 
ply of  cartridges.  I  was  now  ready,  and  the  gravity 
of  the  situation  forced  itself  more  clearly  upon  my  ap- 
prehension. I  did  not  expect  to  return  to  camp  until 
the  proposed  enterprise  had  been  accomplished.  Con- 
sidering, therefore,  that  so  much  was  already  known  in 
camp  from  the  report  of  the  former  party,  and  from 
seeing  me  arrayed  as  I  was,  I  could  not  understand 
that  it  would  be  any  advantage  for  me  to  steal  away 
unnoticed.  With  this  view,  I  went  up  to  Captain 
Sarratt's  quarters  and  bade  him  good-by.  He  was  al- 
most overcome  with  emotion,  and  could  not  muster  a 
single  one  of  his  accustomed  good-natured  jokes.  Then 
came  the  farewells  to  tried  comrades.  Few  of  them 
had  any  distinct  conception  of  the  nature  of  my  errand, 
but  they  knew  it  was  secret  and  dangerous,  and  this 
was  enough  to  excite  their  apprehension.  They  labored 


30  CAPTURING   A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

hard  to  dissuade  me.  The  devotion  of  one  of  their 
number,  my  inseparable  companion,  Alexander  Mills, 
was  especially  affecting.  Though  he  had  been  lying 
in  our  tent  very  sick  all  day,  he  now  crawled  to  the 
door  and  begged  me  not  to  go.  Finding  that  I  was 
fully  determined,  he  hurried  as  fast  as  his  tottering 
steps  would  allow  to  headquarters,  for  permission  to  go 
along!  Notwithstanding  his  physical  inability,  he  per- 
sisted in  his  request  until  the  colonel  threatened  to 
have  him  put  under  arrest.  Had  he  been  well  he 
would  not  have  been  refused,  as  he  was  a  most  excel- 
lent soldier;  but  in  the  trying  times  that  followed,  it 
was  a  great  satisfaction  to  me  that  he  was  left  behind. 
Poor  fellow !  he  lost  his  life  while  carrying  the  flag 
of  the  Second  Ohio  at  the  battle  of  Lookout  Mountain, 
eighteen  months  later,  and  now  sleeps  in  the  beautiful 
National  Cemetery  at  Chattanooga, — that  town  towards 
which  our  steps  were  now  bent. 

When  all  the  farewells  were  over  I  strolled  back  to 
Shelbyville,  meeting  Sergeant  Ross  as  we  had  arranged, 
and  passed  the  time  pleasantly  with  him  in  looking 
about  the  village  until  about  dark,  when  we  inquired 
the  road  to  Wartrace,  and  started  for  the  rendezvous 
that  Andrews  had  appointed.  We  walked  very  leis- 
urely, expecting  that  some  of  our  number,  who  were 
probably  behind,  would  soon  overtake  us,  and  having 
a  curiosity  to  ascertain  whether  we  could  recognize 
them  by  speech  or  manner  as  belonging  to  our  party. 
We  saw  several  persons,  but  they  were  travelling  the 
opposite  way,  and  we  began  to  be  apprehensive  that 
we  had  taken  the  wrong  road. 

As  we  journeyed  on,  we  noticed  a  house  surrounded 
by  a  yard,  and  Ross  proposed  getting  a  drink  of  water. 
Crossing  the  fence  we  went  up  to  the  house,  but  before 
we  reached  the  door,  a  dog  came  up  silently  behind  my 
companion,  and,  biting  his  leg,  ran  under  the  house 
before  a  revolver  could  be  drawn. 

The  bite  was  not  severe,  and  I  laughed  heartily  at 


MIDNIGHT  CONSULTATION.  31 

wis  mishap ;  but  after  drinking,  and  before  reaching 
the  fence,  the  same  dog  rushed  out  once  more.  Ross 
saw  him  in  time,  and  sprang  over  the  fence,  but  I  sat 
on  the  top  of  it  in  fancied  security.  The  malicious 
creature  sprang  at  me,  seized  my  coat,  and  tore  a  large 
piece  out  of  it.  The  same  coat,  thus  torn,  I  wore 
during  the  whole  of  the  year  through  which  our  ad- 
ventures extended.  The  incident  was  trivial,  but  in 
the  deepening  darkness,  with  a  thunder-storm,  which 
now  began  to  mutter  in  the  distance,  approaching,  un- 
certain as  to  where  our  comrades  were,  and  at  the  be- 
ginning of  a  desperate  enterprise,  it  stands  out  in  memory 
with  lurid  distinctness.  To  a  superstitious  person  it 
might  have  seemed  ominous  of  the  results  of  that  ex- 
pedition in  which  Ross  perished,  and  from  which  I  re- 
turned a  shattered  and  disabled  invalid. 

A  pistol-shot  easily  cleared  us  of  the  dog,  and  we 
pursued  our  way, — not  rejoicingly,  for  our  situation 
grew  every  moment  more  perplexing.  Not  one  of 
our  comrades  was  visible,  and  we  were  almost  certain 
we  had  taken  the  wrong  road.  Finally,  we  resolved 
to  retrace  our  steps,  and  try  to  get  in  Shelby ville 
some  better  clue  to  our  journey.  Unless  we  could  ob- 
tain further  instructions,  we  knew  not  how  or  where 
to  go.  We  did  not  like  to  return  to  camp,  for  that 
would  probably  delay  us  too  long  to  take  part  in  the 
enterprise,  and  the  failure  to  go,  after  our  affecting 
leave-taking,  would  have  formed  a  ludicrous  anticli- 
max, and  probably  have  been  charged  to  cowardice.  At 
a  cross-road  in  sight  of  Shelbyville,  where  we  felt  sure 
that  any  of  the  adventurers  who  obeyed  the  directions 
we  had  received  must  pass,  we  sat  down  and  waited 
nearly  an  hour  longer. 

Our  patience  was  rewarded.  We  had  started  too 
soon,  and  from  this  miscalculation  all  our  perplexity 
arose.  A  few  men,  whom  we  recognized  almost  in- 
stinctively as  belonging  to  our  party,  came  along  the 
road  in  the  right  direction.  A  little  guarded  conver- 


32  CAPTUR1XQ   A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

sation  showed  us  that  we  were  right,  and  we  t trolled 
slowly  on  with  them.  Shortly  afterwards  others  over- 
took us,  among  whom  was  Andrews.  This  was  a  great 
relief,  as  we  now  had  a  guide.  Soon  we  were  as  far 
from  Shelbyville  as  Ross  and  I  alone  had  been,  and 
a  few  hundred  yards  farther  on  fell  in  with  still  other 
men.  Our  party  had  so  greatly  increased  as  to  be  quit* 
conspicuous,  and  it  was  advisable  to  add  still  further 
security  to  the  cover  of  the  night.  Accordingly,  we 
left  the  road  for  some  distance,  and,  marching  silently, 
were  soon  at  the  appointed  rendezvous. 

A  little  thicket  of  dead  and  withered  trees,  a  short 
distance  from  the  road,  and  sufficiently  open  to  assure 
us  that  no  listener  was  near,  was  the  place  of  our  assem- 
blage. Never  was  a  consultation  preparatory  to  some 
desperate  deed  held  under  more  fitting  circumstances. 
The  storm  which  had  been  gathering  all  the  evening 
was  now  near.  Black  clouds  covered  one  half  the  sky, 
and  the  young  moon,  low  down  in  the  west,  was  soon 
obscured.  The  frequent  flashes  of  lightning,  more  vivid 
in  the  darkness,  and  the  low  roll  of  thunder  that  fol- 
lowed, grew  continually  more  emphatic,  forming  most 
startling  interruptions  to  the  earnest  but  suppressed 
words  of  our  leader.  It  is  very  singular  that  amid 
these  ominous  surroundings,  which  fitted  so  well  the 
character  of  the  business  in  hand,  one  ordinary  sound 
stands  out  in  my  memory,  far  more  clear  and  distinct 
than  any  part  of  the  scene.  Far  off  I  heard  the  bark  or 
howl  of  a  dog, — no  doubt  at  some  farm-house, — roused 
either  by  the  coming  storm  which  began  to  sway  the  leaf- 
less boughs  above  us,  or  by  the  passing  of  some  belated 
traveller.  Popular  superstition  would  probably  have 
considered  such  a  sound  as  ominous  of  evil ;  and  most 
of  us  are  superstitious  when  young,  in  the  dark,  and 
entering  upon  unknown  dangers. 

We  formed  a  close  circle  around  Mr.  Andrews  while 
he  revealed  to  us  his  daring  plans.  In  a  voice  as  soft 
and  low  as  a  woman's,  but  tremulous  with  suppressed 


MIDNIGHT  CONSULTATION.  33 

enthusiasm,  he  painted  the  greatness  of  the  project  w« 
were  to  attempt,  the  sublimity  of  rushing  through  a 
hostile  country  at  the  full  speed  of  steam,  leaving  flaming 
bridges  and  raging  but  powerless  foes  behind.  But  he 
did  not  disguise  the  dangers  to  be  encountered. 

"  Soldiers,"  he  said,  "  if  you  are  detected  while  en- 
gaged in  this  business,  the  great  probability  is  that  you 
will  be  put  to  death, — hung  as  spies,  or  massacred  by 
a  mob.  I  want  you  to  clearly  understand  this,  and  if 
you  are  not  willing  to  take  the  risk,  return  to  camp, 
and  keep  perfectly  quiet  about  it." 

A  murmur  all  around  the  circle  conveyed  the  assur- 
ance that  we  would  follow  him  to  the  last  extremity. 

"  Our  plan,"  he  continued,  "  is  simply  this :  you  are 
to  travel  on  foot,  or  by  any  conveyance  you  can  hire, 
either  to  Chattanooga  or  some  station  not  far  from  that 
point  on  the  Memphis  and  Charleston  Railroad  ;  then 
you  can  take  passage  on  the  cars  down  to  Marietta ; 
thai  will  be  our  next  place  of  assembling,  and  not  At- 
lanta. You  must  be  there  by  Thursday  evening,  ready 
to  take  passage  on  the  cars  northward  again  by  Friday 
ruoruing.  I  will  be  there  as  soon  as  you,  and  tell  you 
what  more  is  to  be  done." 

"Ixit  how  about  money  to  pay  our  way?"  was 
asked. 

"  I  have  plenty  of  Confederate  money,  .and  will  share 
it  am</ng  you  before  we  part.  As  to  your  story,  you 
uinnot  do  better  than  to  tell  everybody  that  you  are 
Kentdckians  coming  South  to  get  away  from  the 
YaiAees,  and  to  join  the  Confederate  army ;  only  be 
careful  *  have  always  some  plausible  reason  for  going 
farther  before  joining.  A  great  many  Kentuckiana 
have  g  me  South  by  this  route,  and  are  very  heartily  re- 
ceived. If  you  will  go  eastward  through  Wartrace  and 
Mart,  tester,  you  will  get  into  the  track  they  usually 
taho,  and  by  then  turning  south,  you  will  not  appear 
to  he  heading  from  the  Union  army.  If  any  one  of 
you  are  questioned  closely,  you  may  say  you  are  from 


34  CAPTURING  A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

Fleming  County,  for  I  happen  to  know  that  no  soldiers 
from  that  county  are  in  this  part  of  the  country." 

All  of  these  directions  were  eagerly  listened  to,  but 
the  closing  one  afterwards  bore  disastrous  truit. 

One  of  the  soldiers  asked,  "  If  any  of  us  are  sus- 
pected, and  find  we  can't  get  away,  what  would  you 
ad  vise  us  to  do  ?" 

"  Enlist  without  hesitation  in  the  rebel  army,"  was 
the  response.  "You  are  fully  authorized  to  do  that, 
and  no  one  of  this  party  will  be  aca  ised  of  desertion, 
even  if  captured  among  the  rebels.  I  would  be  sorrj 
to  lose  any  one  of  you,  but  it  will  be  fi\r  better  that  you 
should  serve  awhile  with  the  enemy  than  to  acknowl- 
edge who  you  are,  and  thus  risk  the  disclosure  of  the 
enterprise." 

"  But  is  it  likely  that  we  could  get  the  chanc*>  thus 
to  enlist?"  it  was  further  asked. 

"Most  certainly,"  said  Andrews.  "  They  are  taking 
all  the  prisoners  out  of  the  jails  and  tui  listing  them. 
They  are  picking  up  men  who  have  run  mvay  from  the 
conscription  wherever  they  can  find  thenv  and  serving 
them  in  the  same  manner.  If  you  tell  yo'ir  story  and 
stick  to  it,  even  if  they  are  not  satisfied  vhat  you  are 
telling  the  truth,  they  will  put  you  into  the  service. 
You  can  stay  until  some  dark  night  on  picket.  But 
I  hope  you  will  escape  all  trouble,  and  all  weet  me  at 
Marietta  safely.  Break  this  party  up  into  squads  of 
three  or  four,  and  don't  recognize  each  other  on  the 
way.  I  will  ride  along  the  same  country  you  sue  trav- 
elling, and  give  you  any  help  or  direction  in  my  power. 
But  you  must  not  recognize  me  unless  sure  that  we  are 
not  observed." 

There  was  but  one  subject  on  which  I  cared  to  ask 
any  questions,  and  that  related  to  a  distant  contingency. 
I  was  well  informed  as  to  the  first  part  of  the  intended 
enterprise. 

"Suppose  we  succeed  in  capturing  the  train,"  I  Mid, 
"  and  in  burning  the  bridges,  are  we  then  to  leave  the 


MIDNIGHT  CONSULTATION  35 

train,  and  try  to  steal  back  to  our  lines  in  the  same  way 
we  are  now  going  South  ?" 

"  By  no  means,"  replied  Mr.  Andrews.  "  We  will 
run  the  train  right  through  Chattanooga,  and  westward 
until  we  meet  Mitchel,  who  by  that  time  will  be  coming 
eastward  on  the  road  from  Memphis.  If  we  should  not 
quite  reach  him,  we  will  get  so  close  that  we  can  dash 
through  in  a  body." 

This  was  satisfactory  as  far  as  it  went,  but  there  was 
still  another  contingency.  More  than  anything  else  J 
dreaded  being  left  alone  in  an  unknown  country. 

"Tf  we  fail  to  run  the  captured  train  through  Chat- 
tanooga, will  we  then  disperse  or  stick  together?" 

"After  we  meet  at  Marietta,  we  will  keep  together, 
and,  if  necessary,  cut  our  way  back  to  our  own  lines. 
Form  your  squads  now,  and  I  will  give  out  the  money." 

Swiftly  we  selected  our  companions.  There  was  lit- 
tle time  for  choice.  Most  of  the  men  were  strangers. 
The  darkness  was  intense,  and  the  thunder-peals  almost 
overhead.  In  a  moment  we  formed  six  or  seven  little 
groups.  My  former  comrade,  Ross,  stood  with  another 
man  or  two  beside  Andrews.  Two  men  from  Captain 
Mitchel's  company  and  one  from  the  next  company  to 
that  in  the  regimental  line  stood  by  my  side.  Andrews 
went  from  group  to  group,  giving  out  the  money  freely 
and  answering  questions  that  were  still  asked.  WlieL 
this  was  accomplished,  he  addressed  himself  once  more 
to  the  whole  number,  and  we  crowded  around  to  listen 
to  his  parting  words.  They  gave  us  the  fullest  insight 
into  the  whole  plan  we  had  yet  received. 

"To-morrow  morning,"  said  he,  "Mitchel,  with  his 
whole  army,  will  start  on  a  forced  march  right  south  to 
Huntsville.  He  will  capture  that  town  not  later  than 
Friday  (it  was  now  Monday  night),  and  will  then  turn 
east  towards  Chattanooga.  We  must  burn  the  bridges 
south  of  Chattanooga  the  same  day,  for  after  that,  the 
road  will  be  crowded  with  trains  bringing  reinforce- 
ments against  him  and  running  property  away,  and 


36  CAPTURING  A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

our  task  will  be  very  much  harder.  So  we  have  no 
time  to  lose.  We  must  be  at  Marietta  ou  Thursday 
evening.  The  last  train  for  that  station  leaves  Chatta- 
nooga at  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  Be  sure  to  catcb 
it.  Good-by." 

He  gave  each  of  us  his  hand  with  a  hearty  pressure 
and  fervent  good  wishes.  Not  many  moments  after,  the 
storm  broke  over  us  with  all  its  fury.  The  rain  fell  in 
torrents.  The  last  glimpse  I  caught  of  Andrews  as 
my  party  of  four  hurried  on  their  prescribed  course 
was  by  means  of  a  broad  glare  of  lightning  that  made 
the  drenched  landscape  for  a  moment  as  bright  as  day. 
He  had  just  parted  from  the  last  group  and  was  gazinp 
after  us. 


CHAPTER  III. 

COMPANIONS   AND    INCIDENTS. 

WHO  was  this  Mr.  Andrews,  from  whom  we  had 
just  parted  in  storm  and  darkness, — the  man  from 
whose  brain  sprang  the  Chattanooga  Railroad  Expedi- 
tion, and  to  whose  keeping  we  had  so  fearlessly  com- 
mitted our  lives  ?  Few  of  us  knew  much  about  him  at 
that  time,  but  became  wiser  afterwards.  As  he  is  the 
hero  of  the  earlier  part  of  this  story,  it  may  be  well  to 
give  the  reader  the  benefit  of  all  the  information  as  to 
his  character  and  history  subsequently  obtained. 

Mr.  J.  J.  Andrews  was  born  in  that  part  of  Western 
Virginia  known  as  the  "  Pan  Handle,"  on  the  eastern 
bank  of  the  Ohio  River,  and  only  separated  from  my 
own  county  of  Jefferson  by  that  stream.  While  quite 
young  he  had  removed  to  the  mountains  of  Eastern 
Kentucky,  settling  in  Fleming  County.  Here  he  ac- 
quired considerable  wealth,  but  at  the  outbreak  of  the 


COMPANIONS  AND   1XCWKNTS.  3? 

eivil  war  lost  most  of  it  again.  While  in  business  here 
he  travelled  over  much  of  the  South,  and  became  ac- 
quainted with  many  men  whom  the  war  afterwards 
threw  into  prominence.  At  the  first  outbreak  of  hos- 
tilities he  joined  the  Union  army,  not  as  a  soldier,  but 
in  the  still  more  useful  and  dangerous  character  of  a 
spy  and  secret  negotiator.  He  accompanied  General 
Nelson  in  his  Eastern  Kentucky  campaign,  on  which 
occasion  I  had  seen  him  at  Prestonburg,  and  afterwards 
he  journeyed  back  and  forth  two  or  three  times  from 
Nashville  before  the  capture  of  that  city.  He  also 
spent  several  days  in  Fort  Donclson  during  the  week 
preceding  its  capture  by  General  Grant.  At  this  place 
he  narrowly  escaped  detection.  Subsequently  he  vis- 
ited Atlanta  and  brought  back  much  valuable  informa- 
tion. By  representing  himself  as  a  blockade-runner, 
and  carrying  southward  through  our  lines  articles  of 
small  bulk  but  of  great  value  to  the  enemy,  he  secured 
their  confidence  and  brought  back  information  a  hun- 
dredfold more  valuable.  This  business  was  pecuni- 
arily profitable  to  himself  as  well  as  very  serviceable 
to  the  Union  army.  A  Mr.  Whiteman,  of  Nashville, 
afterwards  testified  that  he  had  paid  him  ten  thou- 
sand dollars  for  one  cargo,  the  most  of  which  was  clear 
profit.  Some  of  the  Southern  officers  with  whom  he 
was  intimate  had  bestowed  upon  him  passes  authorizing 
him  to  come  and  go  through  their  lines  at  pleasure.  It 
is  not  my  intention  to  offer  any  apology  for  a  man  who 
thus  betrays  the  confidence  even  of  rebels.  What  jus- 
tice requires  to  be  said  on  this  subject  will  find  a  more 
appropriate  place  in  explaining  the  position  of  those 
who  accompanied  him  in  his  last  and  most  perilous 
journey.  His  occupation  was  one  of  the  utmost  dan- 
ger, and  he  could  not  expect  much  mercy  if  detected. 
He  had  even  gone  the  length  of  taking  the  oath  of  al- 
legiance to  the  Southern  Confederacy,  though  he  was 
passionately  loyal  to  the  old  government.  Indeed,  his 
hatred  for  secession  and  everything  connected  with  it 


38  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

had  become  the  more  intense  from  the  very  disguise  he 
so  frequently  assumed ;  and  the  desire  to  work  all  pos- 
sible injury  to  that  cause  had  far  more  influence  in  in- 
ducing him  to  pursue  his  perilous  vocation  than  any 
hope  of  reward.  I  have  since  been  told  by  Southern 
authorities  that  he  acknowledged  being  promised  fifty 
thousand  dollars  reward  in  case  he  succeeded  in  dc- 
-troying  the  bridges  from  Atlanta  to  Chattanooga,  but 
I  never  heard  of  such  a  contract.  Certainly  no  reward 
whatever  was  promised  directly  or  indirectly  to  the 
soldiers  who  accompanied  him,  and  I  never  heard 
Andrews  himself  speak  of  expecting  any  pecuniary 
recompense. 

Mr.  Andrews  was  nearly  six  feet  in  height,  of  power 
ful  frame,  black  hair,  and  long,  black,  and  silken 
l>eard,  Roman  features,  a  high  and  expansive  forehead, 
and  a  voice  fine  and  soft  as  a  woman's.  Of  polished 
manners,  stately  presence,  and  more  than  ordinary  per- 
sonal beauty,  wide  information,  great  shrewdness  and 
sagacity,  he  was  admirably  fitted  to  win  favor  in  a 
community  like  that  of  the  South,  which  has  always 
placed  a  high  value  on  personal  qualities.  He  had  also 
the  clear  forethought  in  devising  complicated  schemes, 
and  the  calmness  in  the  hour  of  danger  necessary  for 
the  perilous  game  he  played.  Carrying  his  life  in  his 
hand  whenever  he  ventured  beyond  the  Union  pickets, 
involved  continually  in  dangers,  where  a  single  thought- 
less word,  or  even  an  unguarded  look,  might  lead  to 
detection  and  death,  he  had  learned  to  rely  absolutely  on 
his  own  resources,  and  to  contemplate  with  easy  famili- 
arity enterprises  that  would  have  looked  like  sheer 
madness  to  one  without  this  preliminary  drill. 

But  it  was  said  that  even  he  had  grown  tired  of  this 
perpetual  risk,  and  intended,  if  successful  in  this  last 
and  most  difficult  enterprise,  to  retire  to  peaceful  life. 
A  tender  influence  conspired  to  the  same  end,  and  im- 
parts a  dash  of  romance  to  his  story.  He  was  engaged 
to  be  married  in  the  following  Juno,  and  intended  then 


COMPANIONS   AND    IXV1DEXTK.  39 

to  retire  from  the  army.  Alas  !  June  had  a  far  different 
fate  in  store  for  him. 

At  our  interview  in  the  afternoon,  as  well  as  in  the 
midnight  consultation,  Andrews  impressed  me  as  a  man 
who  combined  intellect  and  refinement  with  the  most 
dauntless  courage.  Yet  his  pensive  manner,  slow 
speech,  and  soft  voice  indicated  not  obscurely  what  I 
afterwards  found  to  be  almost  his  only  fault  as  a  leader. 
— a  hesitancy  in  deciding  important  questions  on  the 
spur  of  the  moment,  and  in  backing  his  decision  In- 
prompt,  vigorous  action.  This  did  not  detract  from 
his  value  as  a  secret  agent  when  alone,  for  then  all  his 
actions  were  premeditated  and  accomplished  with  sur- 
passing coolness  and  bravery ;  but  it  was  otherwise  in 
commanding  men  in  startling  and  unforeseen  emergen- 
cies. This  trait  of  character  will  be  more  fully  devel- 
oped in  the  course  of  the  story. 

How  were  the  soldiers  selected  who  assembled  that 
evening  at  the  rendezvous?  This  question  was  asked 
with  curiosity  and  wonder  by  the  enemy,  and  is  of 
great  importance  in  estimating  the  treatment  of  such 
of  their  number  as  were  afterwards  captured.  The 
enemy  could  not,  by  their  utmost  exertions,  obtain  cor- 
rect information  on  this  subject ;  but  there  is  now  no 
reason  for  reticence.  The  nature  of  the  enterprise  was 
such  that  it  could  not  be  publicly  explained  and  vol- 
unteers called  for,  as  it  was  quite  possible  that  spies  of 
the  enemy  were  in  our  camp;  neither  was  it  right,  ac- 
cording to  the  laws  of  war,  to  divest  soldiers  of  their 
uniform  and  place  them  under  the  orders  of  a  spy 
without  their  full  consent.  A  medium  course  \\a.- 
adopted,  which  avoided  the  opposite  difficulties  as  far 
TS  possible.  The  captains  who  were  ordered  to  furnish 
each  a  man  gathered  a  few  of  their  soldiers  about  them 
in  a  quiet  way,  and  stated  that  a  volunteer  was  wanted 
for  a  very  dangerous  enterprise.  Of  those  who  pro- 
fessed willingness  to  go  one  was  selected,  taken  aside 
from  the  others,  and  told  simply  that  he  was  to  be  sent 


40  CAPTURING    A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

disguised  into  the  heart  of  the  enemy's  country,  undei 
the  orders  of  a  Southern  citizen,  whom  the  command- 
ing officers  trusted  fully.  If  they  felt  like  engaging 
in  this  service,  with  all  its  risks,  they  could  sec  tliis 
man  and  learn  more;  but  if  not,  they  would  be  at  lib- 
erty to  decline  the  dangerous  honor.  In  one  or  two 
cases  these  preliminary  explanations  were  so  vague  that 
the  men  addressed  did  not  fairly  understand  the  matter, 
and  subsequently  declared  that  if  they  had  been  moro 
fully  informed  they  would  not  have  taken  the  first 
stop.  After  they  met  Andrews,  however,  they  felt  that 
their  reputation  was  at  stake,  and  were  not  willing  to 
"  back  out."  In  one  or  two  other  cases  the  men  were 
merely  selected  by  their  captains  and  ordered,  without 
any  preliminary  explanations,  to  report  to  Andrews 
outside  of  the  lines. 

Twenty-four  men  were  thus  detailed,  twenty-three 
of  whom  met  at  the  rendezvous.  The  twenty-fourth 
we  never  heard  of;  whether  he  tried  to  reach  us  and 
failed,  or  whether  some  one  of  the  captains  who  was 'to 
furnish  a  man  was  unable  to  induce  any  one  to  accept 
the  dangerous  honor,  is  uncertain.  Indeed,  there  must 
have  been  a  failure  of  two  men,  for  we  had  one  with 
us  who  was  not  originally  expected  to  go.  Captain 
Mitchel  hud  one  man  to  furnish,  and  Perry  G.  Shad- 
rach  was  chosen.  William  Campbell,  a  native  of 
Salineville,  Ohio,  but  for  many  years  a  citizen  of  Ken- 
tucky,  a  man  of  wild  and  adventurous  habits,  was  vis- 
iting Shadrach,  and  at  once  asked  and  obtained  permis- 
sion to  go  with  him.  Though  he  was  only  a  civilian, 
we  always  spoke  of  him  as  an  enlisted  soldier  of  Cap- 
tain Mitchel's  company. 

While  we  arc  splashing  along  in  the  darkness  and 
under  the  fast-falling  rain,  it  may  be  a  good  time  to  de- 
scribe the  members  of  the  squad  with  whom  I  travelled. 
Shadrach  and  Campbell  were  two  of  its  members.  The 
former  was  small  but  roundly  built,  a  merry,  reckless 
fellow,  often  profane,  easily  put  out  of  temper,  but  very 


COMPAMOXS    A.\D    INCIDENTS.  41 

Kind,  and  willing  to-  sacrifice  anything  for  a  friend. 
Campbell  was  physically  the  strongest  man  of  the 
whole  party  and  possibly  of  Mitchel's  division  as  well. 
Fie  weighed  two  hundred  and  twenty  pounds,  was  per- 
fectly proportioned,  very  active,  apparently  fond  of 
danger  for  its  own  sake,  and  as  true  as  steel.  Neither 
of  these  two  men  possessed  much  skill  in  duplicity  01 
shrewdness  in  planning.  They  were  willing  to  leave 
the  task  of  asking  and  answering  questions  to  their 
comrades,  but  were  always  ready  to  bear  their  full 
share  in  action. 

The  third,  George  D.  Wilson,  of  Cincinnati,  was  of 
very  different  character.  He  was  not  highly  educated, 
though  he  had  read  a  great  deal,  but  in  natural  shrewd- 
ness I  have  rarely,  if  ever,  known  his  equal.  He  was 
of  middle  age,  whilst  most  of  us  had  just  passed  out 
of  boyhood.  He  had  traveled  extensively,  and  had 
observed  and  remembered  everything  he  encountered. 
In  the  use  of  fiery  and  scorching  denunciations  he  was 
a  master,  and  took  great  delight  in  overwhelming  an 
opponent  with  an  unmeasured  torrent  of  abuse.  In 
action  he  was  brave  and  cool ;  no  danger  could  frighten 
him,  no  emergency  find  him  unprepared.  The  friend- 
ship I  felt  for  him  grew  steadily  until  his  tragic  death. 
I  depended  on  his  judgment  and  advice  more  than  on 
that  of  any  one  in  the  whole  expedition. 

The  writer  was  first  corporal  in  Company  Gx>f  the 
Second  Regiment  of  Ohio  Volunteers,  and  had  just 
been  promoted  to  the  position  of  sergeant.  I  was 
twenty-two  years  of  age,  a  native  of  Jefferson  County, 
Ohio,  had  been  reared  on  a  farm,  had  taught  school 
in  the  winters,  and  more  recently  had  entered  on  the 
study  of  law.  My  opportunities  for  acquiring  knowl- 
edge were. very  limited,  but  had  been  tolerably  well 
improved.  I  had  read  a  good  many  volumes  and 
gained  a  fair  English  education.  For  war  and  war- 
like affairs  I  had  not  the  slightest  taste,  and  was  indeed 
so  near-sighted  that  it  was  very  doubtful  whether  I 

4* 


42  CAPTVRIXQ   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

could  ever  make  an  efficient  soldier.  When  the  call 
for  three  months'  troops  was  made  at  the  bombardment 
of  Fort  Sumter,  I  felt  that  the  emergency  was.  so  great 
as  to  require  the  services  of  every  patriot,  and  immedi- 
ately enlisted.  I  did  not  then  contemplate  a  longer 
terra  of  service,  as  I  believed  that  the  government 
would  be  able  to  organize  an  adequate  force  within  that 
period  from  those  who  were  better  adapted  to  the  pro- 
fession of  arms.  My  decision  to  enter  the  ranks  wa? 
not  made  without  some  forethought.  Just  previous  to 
putting  my  name  to  the  enlistment  paper,  I  took  a  soli- 
tary night  walk  and  tried  to  bring  up  in  imagination 
all  the  perils  and  discomforts  that  were  possible  in 
military  service,  asking  myself  whether  I  was  willing 
to  endure  any  of  them  that  might  fall  to  my  lot  as  the 
result  of  the  step  I  then  contemplated.  Having  de- 
cided, I  returned  to  the  mass-meeting  (convened  in  the 
court-house  of  Steubenville,  Ohio)  and  entered  my  name 
as  a  volunteer.  The  company  formed  that  night  was 
hurried  to  Washington,  and  on  the  route  was  organized 
with  others  into  the  Second  Ohio  Regiment.  Daring 
the  three  months'  service  our  only  experience  of  fight- 
ing was  in  the  badly-managed  battle,  or  rather  skirmish, 
of  Bull  Run.  On  the  battle-field,  when  the  tide  of 
fortune  turned  aga*:i:st  us,  I  concluded  that  I  ought  to 
re-enlist  for  two  reasons,  it  was  hard  to  quit  the  army 
with  no  experience  but  that  of  defeat,  and  the  country's 
need  of  men  was  still  urgent.  When  the  Second  Ohio 
was  reorganized  for  three  years'  service,  I  therefore  con- 
tinued in  the  ranks.  We  were  sent  TO  Eastern  Ken- 
tucky, and  succeeded,  after  some  trifling  enr^emeuts, 
in  clearing  that  part  of  the  State  from  rebels.  Ye  were 
then  ordered  to  Louisville,  and  greatly  to  my  delight 
were  put  under  the  command  of  the  astronomer  Mitchel. 
A  few  years  before  I  had  studied  astronomy  enthusias- 
tically, and  had  even  gone  so  far  as  to  construct  a  ten- 
foot  telescope  for  my  own  use.  This  similarity  of 
tastes  led  me  to  feel  greatly  delighted,  and  almost  ao- 


COMPANIONS  AND   INCIDENTS.  43 

quaiu ted,  with  our  new  general.  His  fame  as  an  as- 
tronomer did  not  guarantee  his  success  in  war;  but  the 
ability  displayed  in  one  profession  was  a  hopeful  indi- 
cation for  the  other.  Our  division  participated  in  the 
advance  upon  Bowling  Green  and  afterwards  upon 
Nashville.  This  service  offered  no  hardship  except 
wintry  marches,  for  the  capture  of  Fort  Donelson  by 
General  Grant  had  broken  the  enemy's  resistance. 
During  this  march  there  was  not  perfect  accord  between 
Mitchel  and  his  less  energetic  superior,  General  Buell. 
Even  the  soldiers  learned  something  of  their  disputes, 
and  were  much  gratified  when,  at  Nashville,  Mitchel 
was  detached  from  the  main  army  and  left  to  operate 
independently.  In  three  days  he  marched  to  Murfrees- 
borough,  where  this  narrative  opens. 

On  parting  from  Andrews  we  worked  our  way  east- 
ward, keeping  not  far  from  the  railroad  leading  to 
Wartrace.  We  did  not  wish  to  travel  very  far  through 
the  rain,  which  was  almost  pouring  down,  but  only  tc 
get  well  beyond  the  Federal  pickets,  so  as  to  have  a 
clear  track  for  a  long  journey  on  the  following  day. 
We  wished  to  elude  our  own  pickets,  not  only  to  avoid 
detention,  but  to  gain  a  little  practice  in  such  work. 
It  was  our  intention  to  get  that  night  beyond  War- 
trace,  where  our  last  outpost  in  that  direction  was  sta- 
tioned ;  but  our  progress  was  so  slow  and  fatiguing 
that  we  changed  our  minds,  and  determined  to  find  a 
lodging  at  once.  This  resolution  was  more  easily  made 
than  accomplished. 

For  a  long  time  we  searched  in  vain.  It  seemed  a.s 
if  the  country  was  uninhabited.  At  length  the  bark 
ing  of  a  dog  gave  a  clue,  which  was  diligently  followed. 
The  better  to  prosecute  the  search,  we  formed  a  line 
within  hearing  distance  of  each  other,  and  then  swept 
around  in  all  directions.  A  barn  was  our  first  dis- 
covery, but  we  were  so  completely  wet  and  chilled  that 
we  resolved  to  persevere  in  hope  of  a  bed  and  a  fire. 

Shortly  after,  finding  a  rude,  double  log  house,  we 


44  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

roused  the  inmates  and  demanded  shelter  for  the  night. 
The  farmer  was  evidently  alarmed,  but  let  us  in,  and 
then  began  to  investigate  our  character. 

I  narrate  minutely  the  events  that  accompanied  our 
first  setting  out,  not  so  much  for  their  intrinsic  interest, 
as  for  the  sake  of  giving  a  vivid  idea  of  the  conduct  re- 
quired by  the  nature  of  our  exjxjdition.  This  may  also 
be  a  good  place  to  answer  a  question  often  asked,  "  How 
can  the  equivocation  and  downright  falsehood  that  fol- 
lows be  justified  ?"  I  am  not  bound  to  attempt  any 
formal  justification  ;  but  it  is  easy  to  show  that  all  the 
moral  question  involved  is  only  a  branch  of  the  larger 
question  as  to  the  morality  of  war.  In  its  very  nature, 
war  is  compounded  of  force  and  fraud  in  nearly  equal 
quantities.  If  one  of  the  necessary  ingredients  be  wrong, 
the  other  can  hardly  be  right.  The  most  conscientious 
general  thinks  nothing  of  making  movements  with  the 
sole  purpose  of  deceiving  his  adversary,  or  of  writing 
absolutely  false  despatches  for  the  same  purpose.  If  it 
be  right  to  kill  our  fellow-beings,  I  suppose  it  is  also 
right  to  deceive  them  in  order  to  get  a  better  chance  to 
kill  them !  The  golden  rule,  which  is  the  basis  of  all 
morality,  has  but  Tittle  place  as  between  hostile  armies 
or  nations.  To  find  where  some  unsuspecting  persons 
are  asleep,  and  steal  upon  them, .begin  to  shoot  and  stab 
before  they  can  wake  to  defend  themselves,  would,  in 
peace,  be  thought  a  crime  of  the  most  dastardly  and 
ferocious  character ;  but,  in  war,  it  is  only  a  surprise, 
and,  if  successful,  confers  the  greatest  honor  upon  those 
who  plan  and  execute  it.  Are  there  two  sets  of  morals, 
— the  one  for  peace,  the  other  for  war  ?  "  Bat,"  the 
objector  may  continue,  "  is  not  a  constant  resort  to 
falsehood  in  a  secret  expedition  peculiarly  dishonor- 
able?" Let  us  look  this  question  fairly  in  the  face. 
All  armies  employ  spies,  and  the  old  adage,  "The  re- 
ceiver is  as  bad  as  the  thief,"  is  here  fully  applicable. 
A  general  who  induces  a  man,  by  the  hope  of  monej 
or  promotion,  to  go  disguised  into  the  enemy's  lines 


C'OMPAXIOXS  AXD   INCIDENTS.  45 

with  a  lie  in  his  mouth,  for  the  general's  advantage,  is 
a  full  partner  in  the  enterprise,  and  cannot  throw  off 
his  share  of  the  guilt.  It  is  true  that  the  laws  of  war 
throw  all  the  odium  on  the  spy.  But  the  generals,  and 
not  the  spies,  made  the  laws  of  war.  Besides,  there  v 
uo  necessary  connection  between  the  laws  of  war  anr 
the  laws  of  morality.  The  former  are  merely  the  rule 
lueu  construct  for  the  regulation  of  the  most  tremendous 
of  all  their  games,  and  can  never  affect  the  essence  of 
right  and  wrong.  I  do  not  wish  to  argue  the  abstract 
right  of  deceiving  an  enemy,  or  of  deviating  from  the 
strict  truth  for  any  purpose  whatever.  It  is  enough 
for  my  purpose  to  show  that  deception  is  an  element  in 
all  war.  The  candid  reader  will  also  consider  that 
most  of  us  were  very  young.  The  common  sentiment 
of  the  camp  was  that  deceiving  a  rebel  in  any  manner 
was  a  meritorious  action.  With  the  full  sanction  of 
our  officers,  we  had  entered  upon  an  expedition  which 
required  disguise  and  deception.  \Ve  had  been  ex- 
pressly told  that  we  were  not  even  to  hesitate  in  join- 
ing the  rebel  army, — which  implied  taking  the  oath 
of  allegiance  to  the  Confederacy, — if  that  step  became 
necessary  to  avoid  detection.  In  the  whole  of  this  ex- 
pedition we  were  true  to  each  other  and  to  the  mission 
upon  which  we  had  entered,  but  we  did  not  hesitate  at 
any  kind  or  degree  of  uutruthfulness  directed  towards 
the  enemy.  Such  was  the  effect  of  our  resolution  in 
this  direction  that  no  one,  so  far  as  I  remember,  ever 
expressed  any  sorrow  or  remorse  for  any  of  the  false- 
hoods that  were  so  plentifully  employed.  Indeed, 
while  the  war  lasted,  1  did  not  find  a  single  person,  in 
the  army  or  out,  who  ever  criticised  our  expedition  from 
the  moral  stand-point.  There  seemed  to  be  some  kind 
of  an  instinctive  feeling  that  the  revolted  States  had 
forfeited  all  their  rights  by  rebellion, — even  that  of 
having  the  truth  told  to  them.  I  confess  that  decep- 
tion was  very  painful  to  me  at  first,  and  from  inclina- 
tion, as  well  as  |>olicy,  I  used  it  as  sparingly  as  possi- 


46  CAI'TVRIKQ    A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

ble.     But    practice   made   it   comparatively   easy  and 
pleasant,  within  the  limits  indicated  above. 

We  did  not  wait  for  all  these  reasonings  before  we 
began  to  practise  deception  upon  our  host.  He  was 
informed  that  we  were  Kentuckians,  disgusted  with 
the  tyranny  of  the  Lincoln  government,  and  seeking 
an  asylum  in  the  free  and  independent  South.  His 
reply  was  a  grateful  surprise.  "  Oh,"  said  he,  "  you 
come  on  a  bootless  errand,  and  might  as  well  go  home 
again  and  make  the  best  of  it.  The  whole  South  will 
soon  be  as  much  under  Lincoln  as  Kentucky  is." 

"Never!"  \ve  answered.  "We'll  fight  till  \vc  die, 
first!" 

At  this  the  old  man  chuckled  quietly,  but  only  said, 
"  Well,  we'll  see,  we'll  see."  We  found  him  to  be  an 
enthusiastic  Union  man,  but  firmly  maintained  our  own 
assumed  character.  He  provided  us  with  a  good  sup- 
per, late  as  it  was,  and  with  good  beds,  which  we  re- 
fused to  occupy  until  he  had  promised  not  to  betray  us 
to  the  Union  pickets. 

The  next  morning  we  were  early  on  our  way,  reach- 
ing Wartrace  in  the  midst  of  a  pelting  storm.  At- 
tempting to  pass  directly  through,  our  soldiers  on 
guard  were  too  vigilant  for  us,  and  we  enjoyed  another 
opportunity  for  "  diplomacy,"  in  the  endeavor  to  repre- 
sent ourselves  as  innocent  citizens  from  the  adjoining 
country.  But  it  was  more  difficult  to  deceive  our  own 
men  than  the  enemy,  and,  to  avoid  detection,  we  were 
obliged  to  reveal  our  true  character,  which  secured  ( ur 
immediate  release. 

We  plodded  onward  through  the  deep  mud  and 
splashing  roads,  and  were  now  outside  our  own  lines. 
Dur  only  safety,  from  this  time,  lay  in  our  disguise 
and  in  our  false  tongues.  We  felt  not  unlike  the 
landsman  who  for  the  first  time  loses  sight  of  the 
shore,  and  feels  the  heaving  of  the  broad  ocean  under 
his  feet.  To  the  average  Northern  citizen  a  vague  mys- 
tery and  terror  had  rested  over  the  whole  of  the  Southern 


COMPANIONS  AND   INCIDENTS.  47 

States,  even  before  the  beginning  of  the  war.  During 
the  existence  of  slavery  no  Northern  man  dared  make 
his  home  in  the  presence  of  that  institution  and  express 
any  views  unfavorable  to  it.  Many  tales  of  violence 
and  blood  were  reported  from  that  region  long  before 
hostilities  began,  and  as  the  passions  which  led  to  the 
contest  grew  more  fierce,  the  shadows  still  deepened. 
When  war  began  the  curtain  fell,  and  only  reports  of 
wild  and  desperate  enthusiasm  in  behalf  of  the  cause 
of  disunion  and  slavery,  with  stories  of  the  most  cruel 
oppression  of  the  few  who  dared  to  differ  with  the 
ruling  class  in  still  loving  the  old  flag,  reached  North- 
ern ears.  Xo  doubt  there  were  many  exaggerations, 
but  there  was  a  solid  basis  of  fact.  The  South  was 
swept  with  a  revolutionary  frenzy  equal  to  any  tliat 
history  recalls,  and  the  people  were  ready  to  sacrifice 
any  one  whose  life  seemed  dangerous  to  their  cause. 
Even  exaggeration  was  potent  as  truth  in  aiding  to  in- 
vest the  region  beyond  the  Union  lines  with  mysterious 
horror.  Into  this  land  of  peril  and  fear  and  frequent 
outrage  we  were  plunging  as  the  secret  but  deadly  en- 
emies of  the  whole  people.  Now,  when  Chattanooga 
and  Atlanta  are  brought  into  such  easy  communication 
with  Northern  cities,  it  is  difficult  to  recall  the  feelings 
with  which  they  were  regarded  in  the  dark  days  of 
eighteen  hundred  and  sixty-two.  But  hope  and  cour- 
age outweighed  apprehension  in  our  hearts,  and  we 
pushed  rapidly  forward. 

Others  of  our  party  were  occasionally  seen  trudging 
along  in  the  dreary  rain,  and  sometimes  we  went  with 
them  a  little  way,  but  mostly  we  kept  by  ourselves. 
Shortly  after  noon  we  crossed  Duck  River,  and  en- 
tered Manchester,  stopping  just  long  enough  to  get  the 
names  of  some  of  the  prominent  secessionists  along  our 
proposed  route,  that  we  might  always  have  some  one 
to  inquire  for,  and  be  recommended  from  one  influen- 
tial man  to  another.  Nightfall  this  evening  (Tuesday) 
round  us  still  several  miles  from  Hillsborough,  and  WP 


48  CAPTURING    A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

began  to  fear  that  we  would  be  behind  time  in  reaching 
our  destination.  Each  one  was  weary  and  stiff,  but  we 
resolved  to  make  every  effort,  and,  if  necessary,  travel 
a  whole  night  rather  than  be  too  late.  I  have  always 
been  sorry  that  this  night  journey  was  not  required 
of  us. 

At  the  place  where  we  lodged  that  night  I  first  heard 
a  slave-holder  talk  of  hunting  negroes  with  blood- 
hounds. In  conversation  after  supper  our  host  said  to 
us,  as  a  mere  matter  of  news,  "  I  saw  some  persons 
dodging  about  the  back  of  the  plantation  just  as  it  was 
getting  dark,  and  in  the  morning  I  will  take  the  hound? 
and  go  out  and  hunt  them  up.  I  will  be  glad  to  have 
you  go  along  and  see  the  sport,  if  you  can  afford  the 
time.  If  they  prove  to  be  negroes  I  will  make  some- 
thing." 

"What  will  you  do  with  them?"  I  asked. 

"  Oh,  turn  them  over  to  the  authorities  and  get  the 
reward,"  was  the  answer.  "  I  have  caught  a  consider- 
able number,  and  it  pays  to  keep  on  the  lookout." 

Of  course  we  had  to  agree  outwardly ;  but  the  idea 
of  hunting  human  beings  with  the  ferocious-looking 
dogs  we  had  seen  about  his  door,  and  that  for  money, 
thrilled  me  with  detestation  and  horror.  Soon  after- 
wards we  found  that  blood-hounds  were  not  kept  for 
negroes  alone. 

After  a  sound  night's  rest  we  continued  our  journey, 
and  were  fortunate  enough  to  find  a  man  who  was  will- 
ing, for  the  good  of  the  Confederacy,  and  for  an  ex- 
travagant price  in  money,  to  give  us  a  short  ride.  The 
conveyance  was  an  old  wagon,  with  a  wood-rack  for  a 
bed,  four  mules,  with  a  scanty  chain  harness,  ropes  for 
bridles  and  lines,  a  driver  black  as  ebony,  who  rode 
the  lead  mule,  with  a  straw  bag  for  a  saddle,  and  flour- 
ished a  fine  black-snake  whip, — the  latter  the  only  really 
good  article  in  the  whole  "  turnout."  Seven  or  eight 
of  our  party  were  now  together,  and  we  rattled  merrily 
over  the  stony  road  holding  on  to  the  sides  of  the  oM 


COM  I' AX  JONS   AND    INCIDENTS.  49 

wood-rack,  and  agreeing  that  this  was  much  better  than 
walking.  About  the  middle  of  the  forenoon  we  came 
in  sight  of  the  Cumberland  Mountains.  It  was  now 
Wednesday,  our  second  day  outside  of  our  own  lines. 

Never  have  I  beheld  more  beautiful  scenery.  For 
a  short  time  the  rain  ceased  to  fall  and  the  air  became 
clear.  The  mountains  shone  in  the  freshest  green,  and 
about  their  tops  clung  a  soft,  shadowy  mist,  gradu- 
ally descending  lower,  and  shrouding  one  after  another 
of  the  spurs  and  high  mountain  valleys  from  view. 
But  the  beautiful  scene  did  not  long  continue.  Soon 
the  mist  deepened  into  cloud,  and  the  interminable  rain 
began  again  to  fall.  To  add  to  our  discontent,  our 
wagon  could  go  no  farther,  and  we  once  more  waded  in 
the  mud. 

At  noon  we  found  a  dinner  of  the  coarsest  fare  at  a 
miserable  one-roomed  hut.  One  of  our  men,  not  be- 
longing, however,  to  the  squad  I  usually  travelled  with, 
managed  to  get  possession  of  a  bottle  of  apple-brandy, 
which  he  used  so  freely  as  to  become  very  talkative. 
He  was  placed  between  two  others,  who  kept  him  from 
all  communication  with  strangers,  and  walked  him 
rapidly  on  until  he  became  sober.  This  was  the  only 
instance  of  such  dangerous  imprudence  in  the  whole 
journey. 

From  the  personal  narrative  of  J.  Alfred  Wilson, 
who  was  with  us  by  this  time,  I  will  make  frequent 
extracts,  though  by  no  means  always  indorsing  his 
opinions  as  to  military  affairs,  or  the  hopefulness  of  our 
enterprise.  He  was  a  man  of  great  resolution  and  en- 
durance, though  by  no  means  of  hopeful  temper.  He 
says, — 

"  Not  till  fairly  away  from  the  sight  of  the  old  flag  and  of  our 
regiments,  and  entirely  within  the  enemy's  line,  could  we  begin 
to  realize  the  great  responsibility  we  had  incurred.  To  begin 
with,  we  had  cast  aside  our  uniforms  and  put  on  citizen's  clothes, 
and  assumed  all  the  penalties  that,  in  military  usage,  the  word 
tpy  implies,  which  is  death  the  world  over.  Again,  our  mission 
was  such  that  concealment  was  impossible.  We  were  sure  to 
c  d  6 


50  CAPTURING    A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

arouse  the  whole  Confederacy  and  invoke  the  brutal  vengeanc* 
of  its  frenzied  leaders  in  case  we  did  not  make  good  our  escape 
after  doing  our  work.  The  military  spy,  in  the  ordinary  line  of 
nis  duty,  is  not  compelled  to  expose  himself  to  detection.  On 
the  contrary,  he  conceals,  in  every  possible  way,  his  identity. 
This  we  could  do  until  in  the  heart  of  the  enemy's  country,  the 
very  place  where  we  would  be  in  the  greatest  danger." 

Some  of  the  groups  fell  into  the  natural  error  of 
overdoing  their  part,  and  by  the  very  violence  with 
which  they  denounced  the  United  States  government 
excited  suspicion.  One  party  of  five  or  six  made  a 
narrow  escape  from  this  kind  of  danger.  Their  talk 
was  too  extravagant  and  their  answers  to  some  ques- 
tions somewhat  contradictory.  As  none  hut  citizens 
were  then  present,  no  objections  were  made  to  their 
statements;  but  a  company  of  rebel  guerillas  was  se- 
cretly summoned,  and  they  were  pursued.  The  guerillas 
arrived  at  a  house  where  this  party  had  passed  the 
night  but  a  few  moments  after  they  had  resumed  their 
journey  in  the  morning.  The  pursuit  was  continued  ; 
but  growing  somewhat  weary,  and  receiving  more  re- 
assuring accounts  of  the  travellers  ahead,  the  chase  was 
abandoned,  and  our  comrades  escaped. 

Two  others  of  our  number  were  less  fortunate.  The) 
became  involved  in  the  same  manner,  were  followed, 
overtaken,  and  arrested.  They  told  their  Kentucky 
story  in  vain,  but  as  they  professed  their  willingness  to 
enlist  in  the  rebel  army,  that  privilege  was  granted 
them.  They  were  sent  to  the  nearest  post  and  duly 
sworn  in.  Not  long  afterwards  they  took  the  step  that 
had  been  in  their  minds  at  the  hour  of  enlistment  by 
endeavoring  to  desert.  One  of  them  succeeded,  but 
die  other  was  arrested,  and  had  to  suffer  a  long  and 
severe  imprisonment.  Finally,  however,  he  was  sent 
back  to  camp,  and  his  next  attempt  at  desertion  was 
more  successful. 

In  conversation  my  own  group  was  careful  to  take  a 
very  moderate  'though  decided  Southern  tone.  It  was 
agreed  that  Wilson  and  myself  should,  as  far  as  possible, 


COMPANIONS  AND   INCIDENTS.  5] 

do  all  the  talking  when  in  the  presence  of  the  enemy.  On 
entering  towns  it  was  our  custom  to  go  directly  to  the 
street  corners  and  the  groceries,  inquire  for  the  latest 
news,  tell  our  Kentucky  story  as  often  as  it  seemed 
necessary,  deny  some  of  the  reports  of  Union  outrages 
and  confirm  others,  assuring  the  bystanders  that  the 
Yankees  were  not  half  so  bad  as  reported,  and  espe- 
cially that  they  would  fight,  as  otherwise  they  would 
never  have  conquered  our  great  State  of  Kentucky,  and 
then  demand,  in  the  name  of  the  common  cause  of  the 
South,  direction  and  assistance  on  our  way.  We  thus 
acquired  much  information,  and  were  never  once  sus- 
pected. It  is  my  deliberate  opinion  that  we  could  have 
travelled  from  Richmond  to  New  Orleans  in  the  same 
manner  at  that  period  of  the  war. 

A  little  way  out  from  our  camp  Dorsey  met  a  man 
who  seemed  to  be  a  Southern  spy,  and  on  the  strength 
of  this  suspicion  was  strongly  tempted  to  shoot  him  to 
prevent  the  irreparable  harm  he  might  do  us.  A  little 
watching,  however,  partly  dispelled  first  impressions. 
The  same  man  afterwards  offered  Wilson  a  liberal  re- 
ward to  pilot  him  over  the  mountains,  and  actually 
claimed  to  be  a  Confederate  spy.  Wilson  kept  with 
him  for  a  time  and  watched  him  narrowly,  but  became 
convinced  that  he  had  not  the  least  suspicion  of  our 
expedition.  He  allowed  him,  therefore,  to  go  on  his 
way  in  peace.  It  is  possible  that  he  was  not  what  lie 
pretended,  any  more  than  we  ourselves  were  Kentucky 
citizens.  This  man  was  met  once  more  in  Chattanooga, 
but  then  disappeared. 

As 'we  were  mounting  the  first  spurs  of  the  Cumber- 
land Mountains  we  encountered  a  Confederate  soldier 
from  the  East,  who  was  then  at  home  on  a  furlough. 
He  had  been  in  many  battles,  among  them  the  battle 
of  Bull  Run,  which  he  described  minutely.  Little  did 
he  think  that  I,  too,  had  been  there,  as  we  laughed  to- 
gether at  the  wild  panic  of  the  fugitive  Yankees.  He 
was  greatly  delighted  to  see  so  many  Kentuckians 


52  CAPTURING    A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

coming  out  on  the  right  side  in  the  great  struggle,  and 
contrasted  our  conduct  with  that  of  some  mean-spirited 
persons  iu  his  own  neighborhood  who  were  so  foolish 
and  depraved  as  to  still  sympathize  with  the  abolition- 
ists. 

When  we  parted  he  grasped  my  hand  with  tears  in 
his  eyes,  and  said  he  hoped  "  the  time  would  soon  come 
when  we  would  be  comrades,  fighting  side  by  side  in 
one  glorious  cause !"  My  heart  revolted  from  the  hy- 
pocrisy I  was  compelled  to  use,  but  having  begun  there 
was  no  possibility  of  turning  back.  We  clambered  up 
the  mountain  till  the  top  was  reached;  then  across  the 
level  summit  for  six  miles;  then  down  again  by  an 
unfrequented  road  over  steep  rocks,  yawning  chasms, 
and  great  gullies  cut  out  by  recent  rains.  This  rough 
jaunt  led  us  down  into  Battle  Creek,  which  is  a  pic- 
turesque valley  opening  out  into  the  Tennessee,  and 
hemmed  in  by  projecting  ranges  of  lofty  mountains. 
As  we  descended  the  slopes,  a  countryman  we  had 
overtaken  told  me  how  the  valley  had  obtained  its 
name.  The  legend  is  very  romantic,  aud  probably 
truthful. 

There  was  an  Indian  war  between  two  neighboring 
tribes  iu  early  times.  One  of  them  made  a  plundering 
expedition  into  the  territory  of  the  other,  aud  after  se- 
curing their  booty  retreated  homeward.  They  were 
promptly  pursued,  and  traced  to  this  valley.  The  pur- 
suers believed  them  to  be  concealed  within  its  rocky 
limits,  and  to  make  their  capture  sure  divided  their 
force  into  two  bands,  each  of  which  crept  along  the 
steep  opposite  sides  towards  the  head  of  the  valley.  It 
was  early  in  the  morning,  and  as  they  worked  their 
way  cautiously  along  the  mountain  mist  rolled  down- 
ward as  we  had  seen  it  do  that  morning,  and  enveloped 
each  of  the  parties  in  its  folds.  Determined  not  to  be 
foiled,  they  kept  on,  and  meeting  at  the  head  of  the 
valley,  each  supposed  the  other  to  be  the  foe.  They 
poured  in  their  fire,  and  a  deadly  conflict  ensued.  Not 


COMPANIONS  AND    INCIDENTS.  53 

till  the  greater  number  of  thoir  braves  had  fallen  did 
the  survivors  discover  their  sad  mistake ;  then  they 
slowly  and  sorrowfully  retreated  to  their  wigwams. 
The  plunderers,  who  had  listened  to  their  conflict  in 
safety,  being  higher  up  the  mountain,  were  left  to  bear 
off  their  booty  in  triumph. 

But  we  had  little  leisure  for '  legendary  tales.  We 
rested  for  the  night  with  a  wealthy  secessionist,  whom 
our  soldier  friend  on  the  mountains  had  designated  as 
"  the  right  kind  of  a  man."  He  received  us  with  open 
arms,  and  shared  the  best  his  house  afforded.  We 
spent  the  evening  in  denouncing  the  policy  of  the  Fed- 
eral government  and  in  exchanging  views  as  to  the 
prospects  of  the  war.  Among  other  topics  I  happened 
to  mention  an  expatriation  law  which,  as  I  had  learned 
from  a  newspaper  paragraph,  had  been  passed  by  the 
Kentucky  Legislature  a  few  weeks  before.  This  law 
only  made  the  reasonable  provision  that  all  persons 
going  South  to  join  the  rebel  army  should  lose  their 
rights  of  State  citizenship.  The  old  man  thought  this 
to  be  an  act  of  unparalleled  oppression ;  and  in  the 
morning,  before  we  were  out  of  bed,  he  came  into  our 
room  and  requested  some  of  us  to  write  down  that  in- 
famous law  that  he  might  be  able  to  give  his  Union 
neighbors  a  convincing  proof  of  Yankee  wickedness ! 
We  complied,  and  all  signed  our  names  as  witnesses. 
No  doubt  that  document  was  long  the  theme  of  angry 
discussion  in  many  a  mountain  cabin. 

So  thoroughly  did  we  maintain  our  assumed  character 
in  this  instance,  that  three  days  after,  when  the  culmi- 
nation of  our  enterprise  came  to  the  Confederates  like 
a  clap  of  thunder  out  of  a  clear  sky,  it  was  impossible 
to  make  our  host  believe  that  his  guests  were  among 
the  adventurers.  This  we  learned  from  a  Union  man 
to  whom  he  had  shown  a  copy  of  the  terrible  expatria- 
tion law ! 

We  were  still  more  than  forty  miles  distant  from 
Chattanooga  on  this  Wednesday  evening,  and  were  due 


54  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

at  that  place  by  five  o'clock  the  next  day.  On  each  of 
the  two  preceding  days  we  had  measured  about  thirty 
miles, — a  good  rate  of  speed,  but  not  sufficient.  We 
had  formed  the  resolution  of  taking  a  night  journey  of 
ten  or  fifteen  miles,  but  before  starting  after  supper, 
another  squad  arrived  and  managed  to  tell  us  that  they 
had  seen  Andrews  and  been  informed  that  the  grand 
enterprise  was  postponed  one  day.  This  was  a  great 
relief,  for  it  was  hard  to  tear  away  from  our  comfort- 
able quarters ;  but  this  delay  was  a  serious  mistake.  In 
all  combined  movements  in  war,  time  is  of  prime  im- 
portance. On  the  appointed  Friday  success  would  have 
been  easy  ;  on  Saturday — but  we  must  not  anticipate. 

Andrews  had  also  caused  the  advice  to  be  passed 
along  the  line  that  it  would  be  better  to  attempt  to  cross 
the  Tennessee  at  some  point  far  west  of  Chattanooga, 
and  taking  passage  on  the  Memphis  and  Charleston 
Railroad,  endeavor  to  pass  through  Chattanooga  by 
rail.  He  had  heard  of  stringent  orders  being  issued 
against  any  one  crossing  the  river  near  this  town  with- 
out a  pass.  Farther  down  the  stream  these  orders 
might  not  apply,  or,  in  case  of  necessity,  a  raft  might 
be  constructed  among  the  wooded  mountains,  and  a 
passage  obtained  by  that  means. 

About  noon  of  the  next  day  we  came  to  Jasper,  and 
spent  a  short  time  in  the  principal  grocery  of  the  place 
talking  over  the  state  of  the  country.  We  informed 
the  idlers  that  there  would  soon  be  a  mighty  uprising 
of  Kentuckians  in  favor  of  the  Southern  cause,  but 
professed  ignorance  of  the  movements  of  Mitchell 
army.  In  return  we  received  the  first  vague  reports 
of  the  battle  of  Pittsburg  Landing.  It  was  the  im- 
pression that  the  Union  army  was  totally  destroyed, 
thousands  of  men  being  slain,  and  innumerable  cannon 
captured.  One  countryman  assured  me  that  five  hun- 
dred Yankee  gunboats  had  been  sunk  !  I  ventured  to 
oUggest  a  doubt  as  to  the  Yankees  having  so  many,  but 
was  not  able  to  shake  his  faith. 


COMPANIONS  AND   INCIDENTS.  55 

The  same  night  we  reached  the  banks  of  the  Ten- 
nessee, directly  south  of  Jasper,  and  lodged  at  the 
house  of  a  Mrs.  Hall.  A  flat-boat  owned  by  one  of 
the  neighbors  was  used  as  a  ferry-boat,  and  arrange- 
ments were  made  for  setting  us  on  the  other  side  of  the 
stream  early  in  the  morning.  The  evening  spent  here 
was  very  enjoyable.  Others  of  our  party  came  in,  and 
among  them  Andrews  himself.  After  a  good  supper, 
we  were  all  assigned  to  the  best  room,  which  had  a 
roaring  wood-fire  in  an  open  chimney,  and  two  large 
beds  in  the  corners.  We  met  without  any  outward 
sign  of  recognition,  but  rapidly  became  acquainted. 
Each  acted  according  to  his  own  nature.  The  bounti- 
ful supper  and  the  cheerful  fire  greatly  refreshed  u? 
after  the  labor  of  the  day.  My  companion,  Shadrach, 
was  soon  acknowledged  as  the  wit  of  the  party,  and 
received  perpetual  applause  for  his  mirthful  sallies. 
Andrews  was  silent,  but  appeared  to  greatly  enjoy  the 
fun.  Dorsey,  who  had  great  forethought  and  prudence, 
and  had  decided  that  it  was  good  policy,  even  among  his 
comrades,  to  appear  as  ignorant  as  possible,  felt  highly 
complimented  when  told  that  his  group  had  been  de- 
scribed to  some  of  the  others  who  followed  as  "  a  party 
of  country  Jakes."  Wilson  gave  us  all  the  information 
wanted  on  every  possible  subject.  Songs  were  sung, 
stories  were  told,  and  as  the  family  formed  part  of  the 
fireside  company,  many  of  the  incidents  may  not  have 
been  quite  authentic.  Late  at  night  this  social  even- 
ing's entertainment  closed.  It  was  the  more  highly 
appreciated  as  it  was  the  first  opportunity  most  of  us 
had  enjoyed  of  becoming  acquainted  with  our  l^ad^r 
and  with  each  other. 

In  the  morning  Andrews  started  up  the  river  on 
horseback.  The  flat-boat  was  bailed  out,  and  we  were 
just  entering  it,  when  a  mounted  man  appeared  and 
handed  the  ferryman  an  order  forbidding  him  to  allow 
any  one  to  cross  the  river  at  his  ferry  for  three  days. 
We  tried  to  get  an  exception  made  in  our  favor,  as  we 


56  CA/'TUKJXO    A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

had  contracted  with  him  tlie  evening  before,  hut  lie 
was  unwilling  to  assume  the  risk.  The  messenger 
gave  us  the  reason  for  the  order,  and  a  most  interesting 
piece  of  news  it  was.  General  Mitchel  was  moving 
rapidly  southward'  for  some  unknown  object,  and  it  was 
desirable  on  that  account  to  stop  all  intercourse  with  the 
country  beyond  the  river.  The  messenger  volunteered 
the  comforting  assurance  that  "  these  brav.e  Kentuckians 
will  no  doubt  find  a  warm  welcome  at  Chattanooga," 
and  gave  us  the  best  directions  in  his  power  for  reach- 
ing that  point.  We  concealed  our  disappointment,  and 
as  soon  as  we  were  alone  debated  as  to  the  best  course 
to  be  taken.  Two  alternatives  only  were  open.  One 
was  to  build  or  seize  a  raft  or  boat  and  cross  in  defiance 
of  the  order.  This  was  easy  enough  in  the  night,  but 
in  daytime  it  would  be  very  hazardous,  and  that  day, 
until  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  was  the  only  time  at 
our  disposal.  We  therefore  took  the  only  remaining 
course,  and  dispersing,  hurried  over  the  mountains  to- 
wards Chattanooga. 

Our  journey  was  far  from  pleasant,  as  the  rocky 
mountain-spurs  here  sweep  directly  down  to  the  bank 
of  this  very  crooked  river.  Several  times  we  lost  our 
way  in  the  entanglements  of  the  woods,  but  at  lengt  i 
reached  a  valley  that  ran  down  to  the  Tennessee  directly 
opposite  Chattanooga.  The  road  was  now  more  fre- 
quented, and  we  talked  freely  with  travellers,  for  all 
fear  of  being  detected  by  those  we  chanced  to  meet 
had  long  since  been  dissipated. 

One  countryman  related  a  very  interesting  item  of 
news  from  the  war  in  the  East.  It  was  to  the  effect 
that  the  Confederate  iron-clad  "  Merrimac"  had  one 
day  steamed  out  into  the  harbor  of  Fortress  Monroe, 
and  after  engaging  the  Union  "  Monitor"  for  some 
hours,  with  no  decisive  result,  had  run  alongside  of  her 
opponent,  and  throwing  grappling-irons  on  board,  had 
towed  her  ashore,  where  she,  of  course,  fell  an  easy 
prey.  This  may  serve  as  a  specimen  of  the  kind  of 


COMPANIONS  AND    INCIDENTS.  57 

news  we  perpetually  heard  while  in  the  Confederate 
States. 

Quite  a  number  of  persons — many  of  them  of  our 
own  party — were  waiting  on  the  banks  of  the  Tennes- 
see River.  The  assemblage  of  so  many  of  us  on  that 
side  of  the  river  was  very  unfortunate,  as  it  materially 
increased  the  risk  of  discovery;  but  a  very  high  wind 
was.  blowing,  and  the  ferryman  feared  to  risk  his  little 
shackly  "  horse-boat"  on  the  turbulent  stream.  Our 
time  was  nearly  exhausted,  and  we  could  not  afford  to 
wait  very  long.  We  urged  the  boatman  very  strenu- 
ously to  set  us  over  at  once,  but  he  wished  to  delay 
until  the  wind  fell.  Nothing  as  yet  had  been  said  to 
us  about  passes,  but  this  was  explained  mentally  by  the 
conjecture  that  there  was  a  guard  on  the  other  side, 
whose  inspection  we  would  be  obliged  to  pass, — a  more 
formidable  ordeal  than  we  had  yet  encountered.  When 
requests  for  a  speedy  passage  failed  to  move  the  ferry- 
man, we  changed  our  tactics,  and  talked  in  his  hearing 
of  the  cowardice  of  Tennessee  boatmen  as  contrasted 
with  Kentuckians,  or  even  the  Ohio  Yankees.  When 
twelve  or  sixteen  men  deliberately  attempt  to  make  one 
man  angry,  they  can  generally  succeed.  The  boatman 
soon  tired  of  our  raillery,  and,  entering  his  boat,  told 
us  to  come  on  and  show  what  we  could  do  by  lending 
him  a  hand,  adding  that  he  would  put  us  over  or  drown 
us,  he  did  not  care  much  which.  The  invitation  was 
promptly  accepted,  and  by  pushing  with  poles  and 
pulling  on  the  limbs  of  overhanging  trees  we  moved 
up  the  stream  to  a  point  judged  most  favorable,  and 
swung  out  into  the  waves.  The  ride  was  short  and 
not  without  danger,  but  the  peril  on  the  other  side 
was  so  much  greater  that  we  had  little  thought  to  give 
to  the  passage.  "How  should  we  meet  and  deceive 
the  guard  ?"  This  was  the  important  question.  Our 
surprise  was  almost  equal  to  our  delight  when  we 
landed  and  found  no  one  to  bar  our  progress.  The  ex- 
oliuiation  was  perfectly  simple.  The  guard  had  no* 


58  CAPTURING    A    LOCOMOTIVE 

been  platted  that  afternoon  because  it  was  not  believed 
that  any  one  would  attempt  to  cross  in  the  storm. 
Wondering  at  our  good  fortune,  we  hurried  to  the  care, 
and  were  in  time  to  procure  tickets  for  Marietta  before 
the  departure  of  the  train,  which  was  crowded  with 
passengers,  many  of  them  Confederate  soldiers.  In 
such  a  crowd  it  was  easy  to  avoid  notice. 

Every  seat  in  the  cars  was  filled,  and  we  had  to  be 
i-ontented  with  standing  room.  The  fumes  of  whiskey 
and  tobacco  were  very  strong.  Talking  was  loud  and 
incessant,  and  turned  mostly  upon  the  great  battle  of 
Sliiloh,  the  accounts  of  which  were  by  no  means  so  ex- 
travagant as  at  first,  though  a  great  victory  was  still 
claimed.  We  took  part  in  the  conversation  freely, 
judging  this  to  be  the  best  -way  of  maintaining  our  as- 
sumed disguise.  No  general  system  of  passports  had 
been  brought  into  use,  at  least  in  this  part  of  the  South, 
and  railway  travel  was  entirely  unrestricted. 

The  sun  was  about  an  hour  high  when  we  glided  out 
of  the  depot,  and  it  soon  sank  to  rest  behind  the  hills 
of  Georgia.  The  time  for  our  perilous  attempt  drew 
near.  There  was  some  diversity  of  opinion  among  the 
members  of  the  party,  as  revealed  by  conversations 
both  before  and  after,  as  to  the  prospects  of  success. 
The  most  of  us  felt  some  solicitude,  but  were  far  more 
hopeful  than  when  we  left  camp.  So  many  incidents 
had  occurred  substantially  as  they  had  been  planned, 
that  trust  in  the  foresight  of  our  leader,  with  the  assur- 
ance that  all  would  come  out  right,  was  greatly  strength- 
ened. The  first  feeling  of  strangeness  which  followed 
our  plunge  into  the  enemy's  country  had  given  way  to 
confidence  in  the  impenetrability  of  our  mental  disguise. 
For  my  own  part  I  scarcely  felt  a  doubt  of  success.  1 1 
seemed  to  me  that  a  dozen  modes  of  escape  were  open 
in  the  improbable  event  of  failure.  I  saw  the  danger 
surrounding  us  clearly,  but  none  of  them  now  appeared 
more  formidable  than  when  I  first  asked  Colonel  Harris 
the  privilege  of  joining  the  expedition.  There  were 


COMPANIONS  AND   INCIDENTS.  59 

many  bridges  on  the  road  we  passed  over,  and  we  could 
not  help  picturing  our  return  on  the  morrow  and  the 
vengeance  we  proposed  wreaking  on  them.  Darkness 
closed  in,  and  on  we  went  amid  the  oaths  and  laughter 
of  the  rebels,  many  of  whom  were  very  much  intoxi- 
cated. I  procured  a  seat  on  the  coal-box  and  gave  my- 
self up  to  the  thoughts  suggested  by  the  hour.  There 
was  now  no  need  of  trying  to  keep  up  conversation  with 
those  around.  Visions  of  former  days  and  friends— 
dear  friends,  both  around  the  camp-fires  and  the  hearths 
?f  home,  whom  I  might  never  see  again — floated  before 
me.  I  also  heard  much  talk  of  the  merits  of  different 
States  and  regiments  in  the  contest,  and  many  discus- 
•*ions  of  the  conscript  law,  which  was  just  now  coming 
into  force.  The  opinion  of  the  greater  number  of  tilt- 
soldiers  seemed  to  be  that  while  the  provisions  of  the 
law  were  right  in  compelling  all  to  take  a  part  in  the 
burdens  of  the  conflict,  yet  that  it  would  be  of  but  little 
service,  as  the  unwilling  soldiers,  who  were  thus  forced 
into  the  rank's,  would  be  no  match  for  volunteers. 
Little  did  they  imagine  that  in  this  terrible  law  their 
rulers  had  found  a  weapon  which  would  enable  them 
to  repulse  the  Northern  armies  at  every  point,  and  pro- 
tract the  war  for  three  years  longer ! 

At  this  time  the  Union  cause  seemed  most  hopeful. 
\11  appearances  indicated  a  speedy  termination  of  the 
.var  and  a  complete  re-establishment  of  the  old  govcrn- 
•iient.  Few  great  battles  had  taken  place,  but  the  pre- 
ponderance of  fortune  as  well  as  force  seemed  everywhere 
an  the  loyal  side.  In  the  West,  our  armies  had  during 
the  last  three  months  penetrated  almost  half-way  to  the 
Gulf;  McClellan  was  preparing  to  move  with  over- 
whelming force  towards  Richmond ;  Burnside  was  deal- 
ing hard  blows  on  the  North  Carolina  coast ;  the  force 
which  captured  New  Orleans  was  already  on  the  way ; 
and  at  no  point  were  the  rebel  forces  a  fair  match  for 
their  opponents.  Volunteering  had  almost  stopped  in  the 
South,  while  recruits  were  pouring  as  a  steady  stream 


60  CAl'TDItlXO    A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

• 

into  the  Northern  armies,  and  continued  to  do  so  for  a 
year  longer.  A  rebellion  almost  isolated  and  placed 
everywhere  on  the  defensive  could  not  hope  for  long 
life  unless  new  resources  were  discovered.  The  rebel 
leaders  well  knew  this,  and  therefore  passed  the  con- 
scription law. 

It  is  scarcely  an  exaggeration  to  say  that  there  were 
two  wars  waged  between  the  North  and  the  South.  The 
first  was  between  the  two  people  by  means  of  volun- 
teers, and  the  second  between  the  two  governments. 
For  the  first  year  the  soldiers  fought  on  both  sides  with 
scarcely  a  thought  of  pay  or  bounty,  and  without  a  hint 
of  compulsion.  But  the  South  had  reached  the  end  of 
this  period,  and  her  volunteers  were  beaten  and  ex- 
hausted. This  was  not  from  any  want  of  bravery  on 
their  part,  but  because  of  inferior  numbers,  and  be- 
cause, having  less  at  stake  than  the  volunteers  of  the 
North,  they  could  less  willingly  support  adverse  for- 
tune. Now  the  new  law  was  enacted  at  the  South 
which  put  all  the  able-bodied  population  at  the  service 
of  the  State.  The  advantages  were  immediate  and 
obvious.  All  the  volunteers  who  had  enlisted  for  a 
limited  time  were  retained.  The  depleted  organiza- 
tions were  filled  up  to  their  full  strength,  instead  of 
waiting  for  the  recruiting  of  new  regiments,  and  the 
conscripts  thus  became,  in  a  few  days,  the  equals  of 
old  soldiers.  The  second  year  of  the  war,  in  which  the 
Northern  volunteers  fought  the  whole  force  the  Southern 
States  could  bring  into  the  field,  was,  on  the  whole,  the 
most  unfavorable  of  any  period  to  the  loyal  arms.  It 
became  clear  that  the  supremacy  of  the  Union  could 
not  be  restored  unless  the  same  potent  weapon  could  be 
employed  on  her  behalf.  From  the  hour  that  the  possi- 
bility of  this  was  demonstrated,  and  a  draft  success- 
fully enforced  by  the  Union  government,  the  i~sue  was 
virtually  decided.  Despair  might  protract  the  contest, 
but  the  utter  exhaustion  of  Southern  resources  was  only 
a  question  of  time.  Was  it  necessary  to  permit  the  war 


COMPANIONS  AND   INCIDENTS.  Q\ 

to  pass  from  the  first  into  the  second  stage?  Might 
not  the  victory  of  thft  Union  volunteers  have  been 
pushed  so  rapidly  as  to  have  prevented  the  South  from 
enforcing  the  conscription  law  over  any  considerable 
portion  of  her  territory,  and  thus  have  ended  the  con- 
test at  once?  These  were  questions  of  tremendous  im- 
portance, which  could  only  be  answered  in  the  months 
of  April  and  May,  1862.  Then  was  a  golden  oppor- 
tunity which  once  lost  could  only  be  regained  by  year? 
of  desperate  fighting.  A  half-dozen  great  victories  in 
midsummer  would  be  of  less  real  value  than  a  vigor- 
ous advance  in  the  spring,  which  should  at  once  dis- 
courage the  enemy,  while  at  the  lowest  point  of  his 
fortunes,  and  prevent  the  recruiting  of  his  armies  by 
conscription.  It  has  often  been  said  that  the  North  did 
not  win  any  decisive  advantage  until  the  abolition  of 
slavery.  This  is  true,  but  it  does  not  in  the  least  con- 
tradict the  view  just  advanced.  That  great  measure 
committed  the  North  absolutely  to  the  conquest  of  the 
South,  and  thus  led  to  exertions  adequate  to  the  end 
sought.  Yet  we  must  conclude,  reasoning  from  a  mili- 
tary point  of  view  only,  that  if  the  same  exertions  had 
been  put  forth  earlier,  they  would  have  been  even  more 
speedily  effective. 

These  considerations,  which  were  but  dimly,  if  at 
all,  realized  as  we  glided  along  in  the  darkness  through 
the  heart  of  the  rebel  country,  will  render  more  intclli 
gible  the  vast  importance  attributed  by  competent  mili- 
tary authorities  to  the  expedition  in  which  we  wen- 
engaged.  If  we  burned  the  bridges  on  the  morrow, 
General  Mitchcl  would  certainly  capture  Chattanoogii 
within  three  or  four  days,  and  spread  his  power  over 
East  Tennessee  and  all  the  adjoining  loyal  distiicts. 
The  people  of  this  section,  now  thoroughly  alarmed  and 
enraged  by  the  conscription,  would  enlist  under  his 
banner  by  tens  of  thousands.  Seven  regiments  had 
already  been  formed  by  East  Tennesseeans,  who,  under 
cir<  umstances  of  the  greatest  difficulty,  had  run  awav 


62  CAPTl'RIXG    A    LOCO  MO  Till-;. 

into  Kentucky.  The  communications  of  the  Eastern 
and  the  Western  rebel  armies  would  be  cut;  and  to  de- 
stroy those  armies  in  detail  would  only  require  the 
vigorous  advance  of  the  forces  already  opposed  tc 
them.  This  was  a  brilliant  prospect  to  set  before  an 
expedition  composed  of  only  twenty-four  men ;  bul 
there  is  in  it  nothing  beyond  the  realm  of  probability 
and  as  I  thought  of  the  mere  possibility  of  siu-h 
achievements  I  felt  that  we  might  afford  to  despise  all 
personal  danger.  To  deliver  a  territory  occupied  by 
nearly  a  million  citizens  from  conscription ;  to  place  an 
army  in  the  most  important  strategical  position  in  tlie 
rebel  territory,  for  such  Chattanooga  was;  to  give  the 
command  of  the  great  continental  system  of  railways 
into  the  hands  of  our  own  troops,  and  to  paralyze  the 
plans  of  the  enemy ;  these  were,  indeed,  almost  incred- 
ible results  to  flow  from  such  a  cause;  but  we  believed 
then  that  such  would  be  the  meaning  of  our  success. 
The  reader  who  will  study  attentively  the  military 
situation  as  it  was  in  1862,  with  the  railroads  then 
existing,  and  add  the  fact  that  the  Southern  armies 
were  then  depleted  to  the  lowest  point  reached  during 
the  struggle,  will  not  be  disposed  to  smile  at  such  possi- 
bilities. It  is  certain  that  in  the  first  hour  of  panic, 
caused  by  our  attempt,  the  Confederates  themselves  ac- 
knowledged, not  in  words  only,  but  in  the  most  signifi- 
cant actions,  the  deadly  peril  to  which  they  had  been 
exposed. 

With  such  thoughts  the  hours  passed  not  unpleas- 

nitly.     I  noticed  that  we  were  making  very  slow  time. 

ti id  afterwards  learned  that  this  was  general  on  South- 
ern roads.  The  absorption  in  warlike  affairs  and  the 
-carcity  of  iron  and  all  other  material,  as  well  as  of 
money,  had  caused  the  managers  of  the  railroads  to  let 
them  fall  into  bad  repair,  an/I  this  necessitated  a  low 
rate  of  speed.  The  fastest  train  on  this  road  did  not 
get  beyond  eighteen  miles  an  hour.  This  wos  a  de- 
cidedly unfavorable  element  in  the  problem  we  were  to 


COMPANIONS   AND    INCIDENTS.  (53 

solve.  Some  of  the  adventurers  were  even  less  favor- 
ably impressed  with  our  prospects  than  I  was.  The 
immense  business  of  the  road,  which  had  become  one 
of  the  most  important  in  the  whole  South,  rendered  the 
running  of  a  train  when  we  captured  it  much  more 
difficult.  We  saw  many  freight  trains  lying  at  the 
stations,  and  everything  indicated  that  the  capacity  of 
this  line  of  rail  was  being  pressed  to  the  utmost.  Ser- 
geant Ross  and  Alfred  Wilson  took  the  most  gloomy 
view  of  our  prospects  of  success,  and  even  sought  an 
opportunity,  soon  after,  to  dissuade  Andrews  from 
going  any  further  in  it.  The  latter  thus  explains  his 
own  feelings, — 

"  After  getting  seated,  and  there  being  no  further  cause  of  con- 
cern for  the  time  being,  I  began  to  carefully  study  over  the  situ- 
ation with  all  the  thought  I  could,  and  to  calculate  our  chances 
of  success  or  failure.  The  result  of  my  deliberations  was  by  no 
means  encouraging.  We  were  one  day  behind  the  time  ap- 
pointed. I  knew,  too,  or  felt  sure,  that  General  Mitchel  would 
not  fail  to  march  upon  and  take  Huntsville,  according  to  the  ar- 
rangement made  when  we  started.  I  also  felt  that  if  he  did  so 
there  would  be  little  room  to  hope  for  our  success.  It  would 
rause  the  roads  to  be  crowded  with  trains  flying  from  danger, 
;ind  it  would  be  difficult  to  pass  them  all  in  safety.  But  it  was 
too  late  now  to  change  the  programme.  We  must  make  the 
effort,  come  what  might.  I  said  nothing,  however,  to  any  one 
but  Andrews  ;  but  on  listening  to  my  opinion  on  the  situation, 
he  encouraged  me  by  saying  there  was  yet  a  good  chance  to  suc- 
ceed. Indeed,  he  expressed  himself  in  so  sanguine  a  manner  that 
I  made  no  further  argument;  but  I  still  thought  my  course  of 
reasoning  correct,  whether  the  event  should  accord  with  it  or  not." 

From  the  soldiers  and  others  in  the  train  we  received 
a  rumor  which  was  full  of  startling  interest  to  us, — 
nothing  less  than  the  reported  capture  of  Huntsville 
by  General  Mitchel.  Much  incredulity  was  expressed, 
and  details  were  wanting.  His  force  was  reported  at 
twenty-five  or  thirty  thousand  men, — an  extravagant 
but  not  unnatural  over-estimate.  We  had  no  doubt  of 
die  truth  of  the  report,  though  it  would  have  better 
.suited  us  if  he  also  had  been  detained  for  one  day,  or 
even  more. 


64  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

It  was  near  nine  o'clock  when  the  train  reached  the 
supper  station.  After  all  onr  fatigue  we  were  well 
prepared  to  do  justice  to  the  bountiful  meal  that  was 
spread.  But  there  was  such  a  rush  for  the  table  that 
several  of  our  party  were  unable  to  get  near  it,  and  had 
therefore  to  continue  their  fast.  The  writer  was  more 
fortunate.  Buff  urn,  who  was  crowded  back  on  account 
of  his  small  size,  managed  to  stoop  down  and  slip  up 
under  the  arm  of  a  rebel  officer  just  as  the  latter  was 
rising  from  the  table,  and  thus  took  his  place  while  a 
half-do/cn  hungry  travellers  rushed  for  it.  There 
was  some  laughing,  and  Buffum  was  applauded  for  his 
"  Yankee  trick,"  more  than  he  would  have  been  had 
it  been  known  that  he  was  actually  a  native  of  Massa- 
chusetts, and  then  engaged  in  the  Federal  service. 

The  train  rushed  on  after  we  left  the  supper  station, 
and  as  I  had  managed  to  get  a  good  meal  and  also  a 
comfortable  seat  in  the  changing,  all  reflections  and 
dangers  were  soon  forgotten  in  a  sound  sleep,  from 
which  I  only  awakened  when  the  conductor  shouted 
"  Marietta !"  It  was  then  almost  midnight,  and  the 
goal  was  reached.  This  was,  for  the  present,  the  utmost 
boundary  of  our  journey.  We  were  now  in  the  centre 
of  the  Confederacy,  and  before  we  departed  had  a  blow 
to  strike  that  would  either  make  all  rebeldom  vibrate 
from  centre  to  circumference  or  leave  us  at  the  mercy 
of  the  merciless.  But  the  first  thing  to  be  done  was 
to  snatch  a  short  repose  "reparatory  to  the  hard  work 
of  the  morrow. 


A    LOI'O  MOTIVE   AXD    TRAIN    CATTURKD.        (J5 


CHAPTER   IV. 

A    LOCOMOTIVE   AND   TRAIN   CAPTURED. 

THE  greater  number  of  us  arranged  to  pass  the  night 
at  a  small  hotel  adjoining  the  Marietta  depot.  Before 
retiring  we  left  orders  with  the  hotel  clerk  to  rouse  us 
in  time  for  the  northward  bound  train,  due  not  long 
after  daylight.  Notwithstanding  our  novel  situation,  I 
uevcr  slept  more  soundly.  Good  health,  extreme  fa- 
tigue, and  the  feeling  that  the  die  was  now  cast  and 
further  thought  useless,  made  me  sink  into  slumber 
almost  as  soon  as  I  touched  the  bed.  Others  equally 
brave  and  determined  were  affected  in  a  different  way. 
Alfred  Wilson  says, — 

"No  man  knows  what  a  day  may  bring  forth,  and  the  very 
uncertainty  of  what  that  day's  sun  would  bring  forth  in  our  par- 
ticular cases  was  the  reason  that  some  of  us,  myself  at  least  of  the 
number,  did  not  sleep  very  much.  Our  doom  might  be  fixed 
before  the  setting  of  another  sun.  We  might  be  hanging  to  the 
limbs  of  some  of  the  trees  along  the  railroad,  with  an  enraged 
populace  jeering  and  shouting  vengeance  because  we  had  no  more 
lives  to  give  up  ;  or  we  might  leave  a  trail  of  fire  and  destruction 
behind  us,  and  come  triumphantly  rolling  into  Chattanooga  and 
Huntsville,  within  the  Federal  lines,  to  receive  the  welcome 
plaudits  of  comrades  left  behind,  and  the  thanks  of  our  general, 
and  the  praises  of  a  grateful  people.  Such  thoughts  as  these 
passed  in  swift  review,  and  were  not  calculated  to  make  one  sleep 
soundly." 

As  the  hotel  was  much  crowded,  we  obtained  a  few 
rooms  in  close  proximity,  and  crowded  them  to  their 
utmost  capacity.  Andrews  noted  our  rooms  before  re- 
tiring, that  he  might,  if  necessary,  seek  any  one  of  us 
out  for  consultation  before  we  rose.  Porter  and  Haw- 
kins were  unfortunately  overlooked  ;  they  had  arrived 
on  an  earlier  train  and  obtained  lodging  at  some  distance 


66  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

from  the  depot.  The  clerk  failed  to  have  them  called 
in  time  for  the  morning  train,  as  they  had  ordered,  and, 
greatly  to  their  regret  and  chagrin,  they  were  left  be- 
hind. This  was  a  serious  loss,  as  they  were  both  cool, 
brave  men,  and  Hawkins  was  the  most  experienced 
railway  engineer  of  pur  company.  \V.  F.  Brown,  who 
took  his  place  in  this  work,  was,  however,  fully  com- 
petent, though  possibly  somewhat  less  cautious. 

Long  before  the  train  was  due,  Andrews,  who  had 
slept  little,  if  at  all,  that  night,  glided  from  room  to 
room  silently  as  a  ghost,  the  doors  being  purposely 
left  unfastened,  and  aroused  the  dumberers.  It  seemed 
to  some  of  us  scarcely  a  moment  from  the  time  of  re- 
tiring until  he  came  thus  to  the  bedside  of  each  sleeper 
in  turn,  and  cautiously  wakening  him,  asked  his  name, 
to  prevent  the  possibility  of  mistake,  and  then  told  each 
one  exactly  the  part  he  was  expected  to  take  in  the  en- 
terprise of  the  day.  There  was  hasty  dressing,  and 
afterwards  an  informal  meeting  held  in  Andrews' 
room,  at  which  nearly  one-half  of  the  whole  number 
were  present,  and  plans  were  more  fully  discussed. 
Then  Marlon  A.  Ross,  one  of  the  most  determined  of 
the  whole  number,  took  the  bold  step  of  advising  and 
even  urging  the  abandonment,  for  the  present,  of  the 
whole  enterprise.  He  reasoned  with  great  force  that 
under  present  circumstances,  with  the  rebel  vigilance 
fully  aroused  by  Mitchel's  rapid  advance,  with  guards 
stationed  around  the  train  we  were  to  capture,  as  we 
had  learned  would  be  the  case  at  Big  Shanty,  and  with 
the  road  itself  obstructed  by  numerous  trains,  the  en 
terprise  was  sure  to  fail,  and  would  cost  the  life  of  every 
man  engaged  in  it.  Andrews  very  gently  answered 
Sis  arguments  and  strove  to  show  that  the  objections 
urged  really  weighed  in  favor  of  the  original  plan. 
No  such  attempt  as  we  purposed  had  ever  been  made, 
and  consequently  would  not  be  guarded  against ;  the 
presence  of  a  line  of  sentinels  and  of  so  many  troops 
it  Big  Shanty  would  only  tend  to  relax  vigilance  still 


A    LOCOMOTIVE  AND   TRAIN  CAPTURED.       67 

further ;  and  the  great  amount  of  business  done  on  the 
road,  with  the  running  of  many  unscheduled  trains, 
would  screen  us  from  too  close  inquiry  when  we  ran 
our  train  ahead  of  time.  This  reasoning  was  not  alto- 
gether satisfactory,  and  some  of  the  others  joined  Ross 
in  a  respectful  but  firm  protest  against  persisting  in  such 
a  hopeless  undertaking.  But  Andrews,  speaking  very 
low,  as  was  his  wont  when  thoroughly  in  earnest,  de- 
clared that  he  had  once  before  postponed  the  attempt, 
and  returned  to  camp  disgraced.  "Now,"  he  con- 
tinued, "  I  will  accomplish  my  purpose  or  leave  my 
bones  to  bleach  in  Dixie.  But  I  do  not  wish  to  con- 
trol any  one  against  his  own  judgment.  If  any  of  you 
think  it  too  hazardous,  you  are  perfectly  at  liberty  to 
take  the  train  in  the  opposite  direction  and  work  your 
\vay  back  to  camp  as  you  can." 

This  inflexible  determination  closed  the  discussion, 
and  as  no  man  was  willing  to  desert  his  leader,  we  all 
assured  him  of  our  willingness  to  obey  his  orders  to 
the  death.  I  had  taken  no  part  in  the  discussion,  as 
I  was  not  in  possession  of  sufficient  facts  to  judge  of 
the  chance  of  success,  and  I  wished  the  responsibility 
to  rest  upou  the  leader,  where  it  properly  belonged. 

The  train  was  now  nearly  due,  and  we  proceeded  to 
the  station  for  the  purchase  of  tickets.  By  the  time 
they  had  been  procured — not  all  for  one  place,  as  we 
wished  to  lessen  the  risk  of  suspicion — the  train  swept 
up  to  the  platform.  Hastily  glancing  at  it  in  the  early 
morning  light,  and  seeing  only  that  it  was  very  long 
and  apparently  well  filled,  the  twenty  adventurers  en- 
tered by  different  doors,  but  finally  took  their  places  in 
one  car. 

From  Marietta  to  Big  Shanty  the  railroad  sweeps  in 
a  long  bend  of  eight  miles  around  the  foot  of  Kenesaw 
Mountain,  which  lies  directly  between  the  two  stations. 
This  elevation  is  now  scarred  all  over  with  rebel  in- 
trenchments,  and  was  the  scene  of  one  of  the  severest 
oontests  of  the  war.  This,  however,  as  well  as  the 


,j«  CAI'TURINO    A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

\vhole  of  the  three  months'  struggle  from  Chattanooga 
to  Atlanta,  came  a  year  and  a  half  later.  At  this  time 
the  nearest  Federal  soldiers  were  more  than  two  hun- 
dred miles  away. 

When  the  train  moved  on  and  the  conductor  came  to 
rake  our  tickets  we  observed  him  carefully,  as  we  knew 
not  how  closely  his  fate  and  ours  might  be  linked  to- 
gether in  the  approaching  struggle.  The  most  vivid  an- 
ticipation fell  far  short  of  the  reality.  Upon  the  quali- 
fies of  that  one  man  our  success  or  failure  hinged.  He 
was  quite  young — not  more  than  twenty-three  or  four, 
— and  looked  like  a  man  of  resolution  and  energy.  Wo 
noticed  that  he  was  also  scrutinizing  us  and  the  other 
passengers  very  closely,  and  naturally  feared  that  he 
had  in  some  manner  been  put  on  his  guard.  In  fact, 
as  we  learned  long  afterwards,  he  had  been  warned  that 
some  of  the  new  conscripts  who  were  reluctant  to  fight 
for  the  Confederacy  were  contemplating  an  escape,  and 
might  try  to  get  a  ride  on  the  cars.  His  orders  were 
to  watch  for  all  such  and  arrest  them  at  once.  But  he 
did  not  think  that  any  of  the  men  who  got  on  at  Mari- 
etta looked  in  the  least  like  conscripts  or  deserters. 

The  train  ran  slowly,  stopping  at  several  intervening 
points,  and  did  not  reach  Big  Shanty  until  it  was  fully 
daylight.  This  station  had  been  selected  for  the  seiz- 
ure, because  the  train  breakfasted  there,  and  it  was 
probable  that  many  of  the  employes  and  passengers 
would  leave  it  for  their  meal,  thus  diminishing  the  op- 
position we  might  expect.  Another  most  important 
reason  for  the  selection  was  the  absence  of  any  tele- 
graph office.  But,  on  the  other  hand,  Camp  McDonald 
had  been  lately  located  here,  and  a  large  body  of  sol- 
diers— some  accounts  said  as  many  as  ten  thousand 
men — were  already  assembled.  Their  camp  indu-cled 
the  station  within  the  guard-line.  When  Andrews  and 
the  first  party  had  been  at  Atlanta,  three  weeks  earlier, 
few  troops  had  yet  arrived  at  this  point.  The  capture 
of  a  train  in  the  midst  of  a  camp  of  the  enemy  wa? 


A  LOCOMOTIVE  AND   TRAIN   CAPTUliKD.       fly 

not  a  part  of  the  original  plan,  but  subsequently  be- 
came necessary.  It  was  certainly  a  great  additional 
element  of  danger,  but  it  was  not  now  possible  to  sub- 
stitute any  other  point. 

The  decisive  hour  had  arrived.  It  is  scarcely  boast- 
ful to  say  that  the  annals  of  history  record  few  enter- 
prises more  bold  and  novel  than  that  witnessed  by  the 
rising  sun  of  Saturday  morning,  April  12,  1862.  Here 
tt-as  a  train,  with  several  hundred  passengers,  with  a  full 
complement  of  hands,  lying  inside  a  line  of  sentinels, 
who  were  distinctly  seen  pacing  back  and  forth  in  close 
proximity,  to  be  seized  by  a  mere  score  of  men,  and  to 
be  carried  away  before  the  track  could  be  obstructed,  or 
the  intruding  engineer  shot  down  at  his  post.  Only  the 
most  careful  calculation  and  prompt  execution,  concen- 
trating the  power  of  the  whole  band  into  a  single  light- 
ning-like stroke,  could  afford  the  slightest  prospect  of 
success.  In  the  bedroom  conference  every  action  was 
predetermined  with  the  nicest  accuracy.  Our  engineer 
and  his  assistant  knew  the  signal  at  which  to  start;  tin 
brakesmen  had  their  work  assigned ;  the  man  who  was 
to  uncouple  the  cars  knew  just  the  place  at  which  to 
make  the  separation ;  the  remainder  of  the  number 
constituted  a  guard,  in  two  divisions,  who  were  to  stand 
with  ready  revolvers  abreast  of  the  cars  to  be  seized, 
and  shoot  down  without  hesitation  any  one  who  at- 
tempted to  interfere  with  the  work.  Andrews  was  to 
command  the  whole,  and  do  any  part  of  the  work  not 
otherwise  provided  for.  Should  there  be  any  unexpected 
hindrance,  we  were  to  fight  until  we  either  overcame 
all  opposition  and  captured  the  train  or  perished  in.  a 
body.  If  we  failed  to  carry  off  our  prize  we  were  in- 
evitably lost ;  if  any  man  failed  to  be  on  board  when 
the  signal  was  given,  his  fate  also  was  sealed.  A  delay 
of  thirty  seconds  after  our  designs  became  clearly  known 
would  have  resulted  in  the  slaughter  of  the  whole 
party. 

When  our  train  rolled  up  to  the  platform  the  usual 


70  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

announcement  was  shouted,  "  Big  Shanty ;  twenty 
minutes  for  breakfast !"  Most  fortunately  for  us,  the 
conductor,  engineer,  firemen,  and  train-hands  generally, 
with  many  of  the  passengers,  poured  out,  and  hurried  to 
the  long,  low  eating-room  which  gave  its  name  to  the 
station.  The  engine  was  utterly  unguarded.  This  un- 
common carelessness  was  the  result  of  perfect  security, 
and  greatly  favored  our  design.  Yet  it  was  a  thrilling 
moment!  Victory  or  death  hung  on  the  next  minute ! 
There  was  no  chance  for  drawing  back,  and  I  do  not 
think  any  of  us  had  the  disposition.  A  little  while 
before,  a  sense  of  shrinking  came  over  the  writer  like 
that  preceding  a  plunge  into  ice-water ;  but  with  the 
next  breath  it  passed  away,  and  left  me  as  calm  and 
quiet  as  if  no  enemy  had  been  within  a  hundred  miles. 
Still,  for  a  moment,  we  kept  our  seats.  Andrew's  went 
forward  to  examine  the  track  and  see  if  there  was  any 
hindrance  to  a  rapid  rush  ahead.  Almost  immediately 
he  returned,  and  said,  very  quietly,  u  All  right,  boys ; 
let  us  go  now."  There  was  nothing  in  this  to  attract 
special  observation  ;  but  whether  it  did  or  not  was  now 
a  matter  of  indifference.  The  time  of  concealment  was 
past.  We  rose,  left  the  cars,  and  walked  briskly  to  the 
head  of  the  train.  With  the  precision  of  machinery, 
every  man  took  his  appointed  place.  Three  cars  back 
from  the  tender  the  coupling-pin  was  drawn  out,  as  the 
load  of  passenger-cars  would  only  have  been  an  in- 
cumbrauce.  Wilson  W.  Brown,  who  acted  as  engineer. 
William  Knight  as  assistant,  Alfred  Wilson  as  fire- 
man, together  with  Andrews,  mounted  the  engine, 
Knight  grasping  the  lever,  and  waiting  the  word  for 
starting.  The  appointed  brakesmen  threw  themselves 
flat  on  the  top  of  the  cars.  At  a  signal  from  Andrews, 
the  remainder  of  the  band  who  had  kept  watch,  climbed 
with  surprising  quickness  into  a  box-car  which  stood 
open.  All  was  well !  Knight,  at  Andrews'  orders, 
jerked  open  the  steam-valve,  and  we  were  oif !  Before 
the  camp-guards  or  the  bystanders  could  do  more  than 


A  LOCOMOTIVE  AND    TRAIN    CAPTURED.       7J 

turn  a  curious  eye  upon  our  proceedings,  the  train  was 
under  way,  and  we  were  safe  from  interruption. 

The  writer  was  stationed  in  the  box-car,  and  as  soon 
as  all  were  in,  we  pulled  the  door  shut  to  guard  against 
any  stray  musket-balls.  For  a  moment  of  most  in- 
tense suspense  after  we  were  thus  shut  in  all  was  still. 
In  that  moment  a  thousand  conflicting  thoughts  swept 
through  our  minds.  Then  came  a  pull,  ajar,  a  clang, 
and  we  were  flying  away  on  our  perilous  journey. 
Those  who  were  on  the  engine  caught  a  glimpse  of 
the  excited  crowd,  soldiers  and  citizens,  swarming  and 
running  about  in  the  wildest  confusion.  It  has  been 
said  that  a  number  of  shots  were  fired  after  us,  but 
those  in  the  box-car  knew  nothing  of  it,  and  it  is  cer- 
tain that  no  one  was  injured.  A  widely-circulated 
picture  represented  us  as  waving  our  hats  and  shouting 
in  triumph.  Nothing  so  melodramatic  took  place.  The 
moment  was  too  deep  and  earnest,  and  we  had  too 
many  perils  still  to  encounter  for  any  such  childish 
demonstration. 

Yet  it  was  a  grand  triumph,  and  having  nothing 
of  a  more  practical  character  for  the  moment  to  do,  I 
realized  it  to  the  fullest  extent.  There  are  times  in 
life  when  whole  years  of  enjoyment  are  condensed  into 
a  single  experience.  It  was  so  with  me  then.  I  could 
comprehend  the  emotion  of  Columbus  when  he  first 
beheld  through  the  dim  dawn  the  long-dreamed-of 
shores  of  America,  or  the  less  innocent  but  no  less 
fervent  joy  of  .Cortez  when  he  planted  the  Cross  of 
Spain  on  the  halls  of  Montezuma.  My  breast  throbbed 
fast  with  emotions  of  joy  and  gladness  that  words 
labor  in  vain  to  express.  A  sense  of  ethereal  lightness 
ran  through  my  veins,  and  I  seemed  ascending  higher, 
higher,  with  each  pulsation  of  the  engine.  Remember, 
I  was  but  twenty-two  then,  full  of  hope  and  ambition. 
Not  a  dream  of  failure  shadowed  my  rapture.  We 
had  always  been  told  that  the  greatest  difficulty  was  to 
reach  and  take  possession  of  the  engine,  after  which 


72  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 


was  certain.  But  for  unforeseen  contingencies 
it  would  have  been. 

Away  we  rush,  scouring  past  field  and  village  and 
woodland.  At  each  leap  of  the  engine  our  hearts  rose 
higher,  and  we  talked  merrily  of  the  welcome  that 
would  greet  us  when  we  dashed  into  Huutsville  a  fe\r 
hours  later,  our  enterprise  done,  and  the  brightest  laurels 
jf  the  war  eclipsed  ! 

We  found  the  railroad,  however,  to  be  of  the  roughest 
and  most  difficult  character.  The  grades  were  very 
heavy  and  the  curves  numerous  and  sharp.  We 
seemed  to  be  running  towards  every  point  of  the  com- 
pass. The  deep  valleys  and  steep  hills  of  this  part  of 
the  country  had  rendered  the  building  of  the  road  dif- 
ficult and  costly.  There  were  numerous  high  embank- 
ments where  an  accident  would  be  of  deadly  character. 
The  track  was  also  uneven  and  in  generally  bad  con- 
dition, for  the  war  had  rendered  railroad  iron  scarce 
and  high-priced,  besides  diverting  all  attention  and  re- 
sources into  other  channels.  This  unfavorable  char- 
acter of  the  road  very  greatly  increased  the  difficulty 
experienced  by  an  engineer  unfamiliar  with  the  route 
in  making  rapid  time,  or  in  avoiding  the  varied  diffi- 
culties incident  to  our  progress.  But  we  trusted  im- 
plicitly that  the  far-sighted  plans  of  Andrews,  the  skill 
of  our  engineers,  and  our  own  willing  efforts  would 
overcome  all  hindrances. 

Our  first  run  was  short.  There  was  a  sudden  check- 
ing of  speed  and  a  halt.  When  those  of  us  who  were  in 
the  box-car  pushed  open  our  door  and  asked  the  reason 
for  stopping  so  soon,  we  were  told  that  the  fire  was  low 
and  the  steam  exhausted.  This  was  startling  intelli- 
gence, and  caused  a  moment  of  consternation.  If  our 
"  General"  —  the  name  of  the  locomotive  we  had  cap- 
tured —  failed  us  at  the  beginning  of  the  race,  we  too 
well  knew  what  the  end  would  be.  For  hundreds  of 
miles  on  every  side  of  us  were  desperate  and  daring 
foes.  A  hundred  times  our  number  of  horse  and  foot 


A  LOCOMOTIVE  AND    TRAIN   CAPTURED.       73 

could  be  gathered  against  us  in  a  few  hours.  The  most 
timid  bird  pursued  by  hounds  feels  safe,  for  its  wings 
can  bear  it  above  their  jaws.  But  if  those  wings  should 
be  broken!  This  engine  gave  us  wings;  but  if  it 
should  be  disabled  no  valor  of  ours  could  beat  back 
the  hosts  about  us,  no  skill  elude  their  rage.  But  we 
found  a  less  threatening  explanation  of  our  premature 
halt.  The  schedule  time  of  our  train  was  very  slow, — 
only  about  sixteen  miles  an  hour, — and  the  fires  had  been 
allowed  to  run  down  because  of  the  expected  stop  of 
twenty  minutes  for  breakfast  at  Big  Shanty, — a  stop 
that  we  had  reduced  to  less  than  two  minutes.  Then 
the  valve  being  thrown  wide  open,  the  little  steam  in 
the  boiler  was  soon  exhausted.  But  this  difficulty  was 
of  short  duration.  A  rest  of  three  minutes,  with  plenty 
of  wood  thrown  into  the  furnace,  wrought  a  change, 
and  we  again  glided  rapidly  forward. 

But  when  viewed  soberly,  and  in  the  light  of  all  the 
facts  since  developed,  what  were  the  chances  of  success 
and  escape  possessed  by  the  flying  party?  Was  the 
whole  attempt,  as  has  been  frequently  asserted,  rash  and 
foolhardy?  Or  had  it  that  character  of  practicability 
which  is  ever  the  stamp  of  true  genius  ?  Historical 
accuracy,  as  well  as  justice  to  the  memory  of  a  brave 
but  unfortunate  man,  compels  me  to  pronounce  the 
scheme  almost  faultless.  In  this  estimate  I  have  the 
full  concurrence  of  all  who  were  engaged  on  the  oppo- 
site side.  It  is  hard  to  see  how  the  plan  could  have 
been  improved  without  allowing  its  projector  to  have 
had  a  knowledge  of  the  precise  condition  of  the  enemy 
such  as  no  commander  at  the  beginning  of  an  important 
enterprise  ever  has.  No  one  of  the  plans  by  which 
Generals  Grant  and  Sherman  finally  overthrew  the 
Rebellion  presented  a  clearer  prospect  of  success. 

These  are  the  elements  of  the  problem  upon  which 
Andrews  based  his  hopes.  Big  Shanty  is  twenty-eight 
miles  north  of  Atlanta  and  thirty-two  south  of  Kings- 
ton. Short  of  these  places  he  was  convinced  that  no 

D  7 


Y4  CAPTURING    A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

engine  could  be  obtained  for  pursuit.  He  could  ob- 
struct the  road  so  that  no  train  would  reach  Big  Shanty 
for  hours.  Pinch-bars  and  other  instruments  for  lift- 
ing track  might  be  found  on  the  captured  engine,  or 
obtained  from  some  station  or  working-party.  His 
force  of  twenty  men  was  counted  ample  to  overcome 
I'esistance  at  any  switch  or  passing  train.  One  irregular 
train  only  was  expected  to  be  on  the  road,  and  that 
would  soon  be  met, — certainly  at  Kingston  or  before, — 
after  which  it  would  be  safe  to  run  at  the  highest  speed 
to  the  first  bridge,  burn  it,  and  pass  on  to  the  next, 
which,  with  all  other  large  bridges,  could  be  served  in 
the  same  manner.  Each  bridge  burnt  would  be  an  in- 
superable barrier  to  pursuit  by  an  engine  beyond  that 
point.  Thus  every  part  of  the  scheme  was  fair  and 
promising.  Only  those  critics  who  are  wise  after  the 
event  can  pronounce  the  attempt  rash  and  hopeless. 
The  destruction  of  the  telegraph  would  also  be  neces- 
sary ;  but  this  was  not  difficult.  It  seemed  as  if  every 
contingency  was  provided  for,  and  then  there  was  the 
additional  fighting  power  of  twenty  chosen  men  to 
guard  against  any  possible  emergency.  AVe  were  now 
embarked  on  this  most  perilous  but  hopeful  voyage. 
Coolness,  precision  of  work,  and  calm  effort  could 
scarcely  fail  to  sever  the  chief  military  communications 
of  the  enemy  before  the  setting  of  the  sun,  and  con- 
vince him  that  no  enterprise  was  too  audacious  for  the 
Union  arms. 


UNFORESEEN  HINDRANCES.  75 


CHAPTER  V. 

UNFORESEEN    HINDRANCES. 

AFTER  the  fire  had  been  made  to  burn  briskly  An- 
drews jumped  off  the  engine,  ran  back  to  the  box-car, 
about  the  door  of  which  we  were  standing,  and  clasped 
our  hands  in  an  ecstasy  of  congratulation.  He  declared 
that  all  our  really  hard  work  was  done  and  that  our 
difficulties  were  nearly  passed ;  that  we  had  the  enemy 
at  such  a  disadvantage  that  he  could  not  harm  ue ;  and 
exhibited  every  sign  of  joy.  Said  he,  "Only  one  train 
to  meet,  and  then  we  will  put  our  engine  to  full  speed, 
burn  tbe  bridges  that  I  have  marked  out,  dash  through 
Chattanooga,  and  on  to  Mitchel  at  Huntsville.  We've 
got  the  upper  hand  of  the  rebels  now,  and  they  can't 
help  themselves!"  How  glad  we  all  were!  When, 
three  years  later,  the  capture  of  Richmond  set  all  the 
bells  of  the  North  ringing  out  peals  of  triumph,  the 
sensation  of  joy  was  more  diffused  but  less  intense  than 
we  then  experienced.  Almost  everything  mankind 
values  seemed  within  our  grasp.  Oh,  if  we  had  met 
but  one  unscheduled  train ! 

This  reference  of  Andrews  to  one  tram  which  he 
expected  to  meet  before  we  began  to  burn  bridges  has 
been  quoted  in  many  public  sketches,  and  has  led  to 
some  misapprehension.  He  did  expect  to  meet  three 
trains  before  reaching  Chattanooga ;  but  two  of  these 
were  regular  trains,  and  being  also  farther  up  the  road, 
were  not  supposed  to  present  any  serious  difficulty. 
Their  position  at  any  given  time  could  be  definitely  as- 
certained, and  we  could  avoid  collision  with  them,  no 
matter  how  far  we  ran  ahead  of  time.  But  so  long  as 
there  were  an)  irregular  trains  on  the  road  before  us, 


76  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

our  only  safety  was  in  keeping  the  regular  time  of  tha 
captured  train.  This  was,  unfortunately,  very  slow  ; 
but  if  we  exceeded  it  we  lost  the  right  of  way,  and  were 
liable  to  a  collision  at  any  moment.  This  risk  was 
greatly  increased  by  our  inability  to  send  ahead  tele- 
graphic notifications  of  our  position.  The  order  of 
southward-bound  trains,  according  to  the  information 
we  then  had,  was  as  follows  :  First,  a  way- freight,  which 
was  very  uncertain  as  to  time,  but  which  we  expected 
to  meet  early  in  the  morning,  and  felt  sure  that  it  would 
be  at  Kingston  or  south  of  that  point.  This  was  the 
only  real  hindrance  according  to  our  programme,  and  it 
was  to  this  train  that  Andrews  referred.  Behind  this 
were  the  regular  freight  train,  and  still  farther  north 
the  regular  passenger  train.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  we 
did  meet  these  trains  at  Adairsville  and  Calhoun,  the 
latter  being  somewhat  behind  time;  but  \ve  might  have 
met  them  farther  north  had  it  not  been  for  unforeseen 
hindrances. 

There  is  considerable  discrepancy  in  the  many  pub 
lished  accounts  of  the  following  chase,  which  the  writei 
has  not  in  every  case  been  able  to  perfectly  reconcile. 
In  the  intense  excitement  and  novel  situations  involved 
men  were  not  likely  to  observe  or  remember  every  event 
accurately.  But  no  pains  have  been  spared  to  combine 
fulness  and  completeness  in  the  following  account. 
Using  the  best  of  my  own  recollections,  consulting  my 
comrades,  reading  carefully  all  published  accounts,  and 
especially  going  over  the  whole  route  years  after,  with 
Fuller  and  Murphy,  two  of  the  pursuing  party,  who 
kindly  gave  me  all  the  information  in  their  power,  it 
is  hoped  that  substantial  accuracy  has  been  obtained. 
Some  of  the  incidents  of  the  chase,  such  as  the  number 
of  times  the  track  was  torn  up,  and  whether  we  were 
fired  upon  by  pursuing  soldiers,  allow  some  room  foi 
a  conflict  of  memory.  But  the  variations  are  not 
material. 

Side  by  side  with  the  road  ran  the  telegraph-wires, 


UNFORESEEN  HINDRANCES.  77 

which  were  able,  by  the  flashing  of  a  single  lightning 
message  ahead,  to  arrest  our  progress  and  dissipate  our 
fondest  hopes.  There  was  no  telegraph  station  where 
we  had  captured  the  train,  but  we  knew  not  how  soon 
cur  enemies  might  reach  one,  or  whether  they  might 
not  have  a  portable  battery  at  command.  Therefore  we 
ran  but  a  short  distance,  after  replenishing  the  furnace, 
before  again  stopping  to  cut  the  wire. 

John  Scott,  an  active  young  man  of  the  Twenty-first 
Ohio,  scrambled  up  the  pole  with  the  agility  of  a  cat, 
and  tried  to  break  the  wire  by  swinging  upon  it ;  but 
failing  in  this,  he  knocked  oif  the  insulating  box  at  the 
top  of  the  pole  and  swung  with  it  down  to  the  ground. 
Fortunately,  a  small  saw  was  found  on  the  engine,  with 
which  the  wire  was  severed  in  two  places,  and  the  in- 
cluded portion,  many  yards  in  length,  was  taken  away 
with  us,  in  order  that  the  ends  might  not  be  readily 
joined. 

While  one  or  two  of  the  party  Avere  thus  engaged 
others  worked  with  equal  diligence  in  taking  up  a  rail 
from  the  track.  No  good  track-raising  instruments 
had  been  found  on  the  train,  and  we  had  not  yet  pro- 
cured them  from  any  other  source.  A  smooth  iron 
bar,  about  four  feet  long,  was  the  only  instrument  yet 
found,  and  with  this  some  of  the  spikes  were  slowly 
and  painfully  battered  out.  After  a  few  had  thus  been 
extracted,  a  lever  was  got  under  the  rail  and  the  re- 
mainder were  pried  loose.  This  occupied  much  more 
time  than  cutting  the  wire,  and  it  required  no  prophet 
to  foretell  that  if  we  did  not  procure  better  tools  rail- 
lifting  would  have  to  be  used  very  sparingly  in  our 
programme.  In  the  prasent  instance,  however,  the  loss 
of  time  was  no  misfortune,  as  we  were  ahead  of  the 
schedule  time,  which  we  still  felt  bound  to  observe. 

After  another  rapid  but  brief  run,  we  paused  long 
enough  to  chop  down  a  telegraph-pole,  cut  the  wire 
again,  and  place  the  pole,  with  many  other  obstructions, 
on  the  track.  We  did  not  here  try  to  lift  a  rail ;  in- 


7g  CAPTURING  A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

deed,  we  had  little  serious  fear  of  any  pursuit  at  tliia 
time,  and  merely  threw  on  these  obstructions  because 
of  having  spare  time  to  employ. 

We  thus  continued — running  a  little  ahead  of  time, 
then  stopping  to  obstruct  the  track  and  cut  the  wire — 
until  Cass  Station  was  reached,  where  we  took  on  a 
good  supply  of  wood  and  water.  At  this  place  we  also 
obtained  a  complete  time  schedule  of  the  road.  An 
drews  told  the  tank-tender  that  we  were  running  a 
powder- train  through  to  the  army  of  General  Bcaure- 
gard  at  Corinth,  which  was  almost  out  of  ammunition, 
and  that  the  greatest  haste  was  necessary.  He  further 
claimed  to  be  a  Confederate  officer  of  high  rank,  and 
said  that  he  had  impressed  this  train  for  the  purpose  in 
hand,  and  that  Fuller,  with  the  regular  passenger  train, 
would  be  along  shortly.  The  whole  story  was  none 
too  plausible,  as  General  Mitchel  was  now  interposed 
between  our  present  position  and  Beauregard,  and  we 
would  never  have  been  able  to  get  a  train  to  the  army 
of  the  latter  on  this  route;  but  the  tender  was  not 
critical  and  gave  us  his  schedule,  adding  that  he  would 
willingly  send  his  shirt  to  Beauregard  if  that  general 
needed  it.  When  this  man  was  afterwards  asked  if  he 
did  not  suspect  the  character  of  the  enemy  he  thus 
aided,  he  answered  that  he  would  as  soon  have  sus- 
pected the  President  of  the  Confederacy  himself  as 
one  who  talked  so  coolly  and  confidently  as  Andrews 
did! 

Keeping  exactly  on  regular  time,  we  proceeded  with- 
out any  striking  ad  ventures  until  Kingston  was  reached. 
This  place — thirty-two  miles  from  Big  Shanty — we  re- 
garded as  marKiug  the  first  stage  of  our  journey.  Two 
hours  had  elapsed  since  the  capture  of  the  train,  and 
hitherto  we  had  been  fairly  prosperous.  No  track-lift- 
ing instruments  had  yet  been  obtained,  notwithstanding 
inquiries  for  them  at  several  stations.  We  had  secured 
no  inflammable  materials  for  more  readily  firing  the 
bridges,  and  the  road  was  not  yet  clear  before  us.  But, 


UNFORESEEN  HINDRANCES.  79 

jn  the  other  hand,  no  serious  hindrance  had  yet  oc- 
curred, and  we  believed  ourselves  far  ahead  of  any 
possible  pursuit. 

But  at  Kingston  we  had  some  grounds  for  appre- 
hending difficulty.  This  little  town  is  at  the  junction 
with  the  road  to  Rome,  Georgia.  Cars  and  engines 
were  standing  on  the  side  track.  Here  we  fully  ex- 
pected to  meet  our  first  train,  and  it  would  be  neces- 
sary for  us  to  get  the  switches  properly  adjusted  before 
we  could  pass  it  to  go  on  our  way.  When  we  drew 
up  at  the  station  there  was  handed  to  Andrews  our 
first  and  last  communication  from  the  management  of 
the  road,  in  the  shape  of  a  telegram,  ordering  Fuller's 
train — now  ours — to  wait  at  Kingston  for  the  local 
freight,  which  was  considerably  behind  time.  The 
order  was  not  very  welcome,  but  we  drew  out  on  the 
side  track,  and  watched  eagerly  for  the  train.  Many 
persons  gathered  around  Andrews,  who  here,  as  always, 
personated  the  conductor  of  our  train,  and  showered 
upon  him  many  curious  and  somewhat  suspicious  ques- 
tions. Ours  was  an  irregular  train,  but  the  engine  was 
recognized  as  Fuller's.  The  best  answers  possible  were 
given.  A  red  flag  had  been  placed  on  our  engine,  and 
the  announcement  was  made  that  Fuller,  with  another 
engine,  was  but  a  short  way  behind.  The  powder  story 
was  emphasized,  and  every  means  employed  to  avoid 
suspicion.  Andrews  only,  and  the  usual  complement 
of  train-hands,  were  visible,  the  remainder  of  the  party 
being  tightly  shut  up  in  the  car,  which  was  designated 
as  containing  Beauregard's  ammunition.  Tb"  strip  - 
ing  personal  appearance  of  Andrews  greatly  Aided  him 
in  carrying  through  his  deception,  which  was  never 
more  difficult  than  at  this  station.  H!s  commanding 
presence,  and  firm  but  graceful  address,  marked  him 
as  a  Southern  gentleman, — a  member  of  the  class 
from  which  a  great  proportion  of  the  rebel  officers 
were  drawn.  His  declarations  and  orders  were  there- 
fore received  with  the  greater  respect  on  this  account 


80  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

But   all    these    resources   were    here   strained    to   the 
utmost. 

At  length  the  anxiously-expected  local  freight  train 
arrived,  and  took  its  place  on  another  side  track.  We 
were  about  to  start  on  our  way,  with  the  glad  conscious- 
ness that  our  greatest  obstacle  was  safely  passed,  when 
a  red  flag  was  noticed  on  the  hindmost  freight-car. 
This  elicited  immediate  inquiry,  and  we  were  informed 
that  another  very  long  freight  train  was  just  behind,  and 
that  we  would  be  obliged  to  wait  its  arrival  also.  This 
was  most  unfortunate,  as  we  had  been  already  detained 
at  Kingston  much  longer  than  was  pleasant.  There 
were  many  disagreeable  elements  in  the  situation. '  A 
crowd  of  persons  was  rapidly  assembling.  The  train 
from  Rome  was  also  nearly  due,  and  though  it  only 
came  to  the  station  and  returned  on  its  own  branch, 
yet  it  was  not  agreeable  to  notice  the  constant  increase 
of  force  that  our  enemies  were  gaining.  If  any  word 
from  the  southward  arrived,  or  if  our  true  character 
was  revealed  in  any  other  way,  the  peril  would  be  im- 
minent. But  we  trusted  that  this  second  delay  would 
be  brief.  Slowly  the  minutes  passed  by.  To  us,  who 
were  shut  up  in  the  box-car,  it  appeared  as  if  they 
vould  never  be  gone.  Our  soldier  comrades  on  the 
mtside  kept  in  the  background  as  much  as  po.ssible,  re- 
maining at  their  posts  on  the  engine  and  the  cars,  while 
Andrews  occupied  attention  by  complaining  of  the  de- 
lay, and  declaring  that  the  road  ought  to  be  kept  clear  of 
freight  trains  when  so  much  needed  for  the  transporta- 
\ion  of  army  supplies,  and  when  the  fate  of  the  whole 
army  of  the  West  might  depend  upon  the  celerity  with 
which  it  received  its  ammunition.  There  was  plausi- 
'bility  enough  in  his  words  to  lull  suspicion  in  all  minds 
except  that  of  the  old  switch-tender  of  the  place,  who 
grumbled  out  his  conviction  "  that  something  was  wrong 
with  that  stylish-looking  fellow,  who  ordered  every- 
body around  as  if  the  whole  road  belonged  to  him.'1 
But  no  one  paid  any  attention  to  this  man's  complaints. 


UNFORESEEN   HINDRANCES.  81 

and  not  many  minutes  after  a  distant  whistle  sounded 
from  the  northward,  and  we  felt  that  the  crisis  had 
passed.  As  there  was  no  more  room  on  the  side  track, 
Andrews  ordered  the  switch-tender  to  let  this  train  run 
by  on  the  main  track.  That  worthy  was  still  grumb- 
ling, but  he  reluctantly  obeyed,  and  the  long  success  on 
of  cars  soon  glided  by  us. 

This  meant  release  from  a  suspense  more  intolerable 
than  the  most  perilous  action.  To  calmly  wait  where 
we  could  do  nothing,  while  our  destiny  was  being 
wrought  out  by  forces  operating  in  the  darkness,  .was  a 
terrible  trial  of  nerve.  But  it  was  well  borne.  Brown, 
Knight,  and  Wilson,  who  \vere  exposed  to  view,  ex- 
hibited no  more  impatience  than  was  to  be  expected  of 
men  in  their  assumed  situation.  Those  of  us  in  the 
box-car  talked  in  whispers  only,  and  examined  the 
priming  of  our  pistols.  We  understood  that  we  were 
waiting  for  a  delayed  train,  ami  well  knew  the  fearful 
possibilities  of  an  obstructed  track,  with  the  speedy  de- 
tection, and  fight  against  overwhelming  odds  that  would 
follow,  if  the  train  for  which  we  waited  did  not  arrive 
sooner  than  pursuers  from  Big  Shanty.  When  we  rec- 
ognized the  whistle  of  the  coming  train  it  was  almost  as 
welcome  as  the  boom  of  Mitch  el's  cannon,  which  we 
expected  to  hear  that  evening  after  all  our  work  was 
done.  As  it  rumbled  by  us  we  fully  expected  an  in- 
stant start,  a  swift  run  of  a  few  miles,  and  then  the 
hard  work  but  pleasant  excitement  of  bridge-burning. 
Alas! 

Swift  and  frequent  are  the  mutations  of  war.  Suc- 
cess can  never  be  assured  to  any  enterprise  in  advance. 
Thp-  train  for  which  we  had  waited  with  so  much  anx- 
iety had  no  sooner  stopped  than  we  beheld  on  it  an 
emblem  more  terrible  than  any  comet  that  ever  frighted 
a  superstitious  continent.  Another  red  flag!  An- 
other train  close  behind  !  This  was  terrible,  but  what 
could  be  done?  With  admirable  presence  of  mind 
moderated  hi?  impatience,  and  asked  the 


82  CAPTURING   A   LOCOMOTIVE.      . 

conductor  of  the  newly-arrived  train  the  meaning  ol 
such  an  unusual  obstruction  of  the  road.  His  tone 
was  commanding,  and  without  reserve  the  conductor 
gave  the  full  explanation.  To  Andrews  it  had  a  thrill- 
ing interest.  The  commander  at  Chattanooga  had  re- 
ceived information  that  the  Yankee  General  Mitchel 
was  coming  by  forced  marches  and  in  full  strength 
against  that  town  ;  therefore  all  the  rolling-stock  of 
the  road  had  been  ordered  to  Atlanta.  This  train  was 
tire  first  instalment,  but  another  and  still  longer  section 
was  behind.  It  was  to  start  a  few  minutes  after  he 
did,  and  would  probably  not  be  more  than  ten  or  fifteen 
minutes  behind.  In  turn,  the  conductor  asked  An- 
drews who  he  was,  and  received  the  information  that 
he  was  an  agent  of  General  Beauregard,  and  that  he 
had  impressed  a  train  into  military  service  in  Atlanta, 
which  h«  was  running  through  with  powder,  of  which 
Beauregard  was  in  extreme  need.  Under  such  cir- 
cumstances he  greatly  regretted  this  unfortunate  deten- 
tion. The  conductor  did  not  suspect  the  falsity  of 
these  pretences,  but  told  Andrews  that  it  was  very 
doubtful  if  he  could  get  to  Bcauregard  at  Corinth  by 
going  through  Chattanooga,  as  it  was  certain  that 
Mitchel  had  captured  Huntsville,  directly  on  the  line 
between  them.  Andrews  replied  that  this  made  no 
difference,  as  he  had  his  orders,  and  should  press  on 
until  they  were  countermanded,  adding  that  Mitchel  was 
probably  only  paying  a  flying  visit  to  Huntsville,  and 
would  have  to  be  gone  soon,  or  find  Beauregard  upon 
him.  Andrews  also  ordered  the  conductor  to  run  far 
enough  down  the  main  track  to  allow  the  next  train 
to  draw  in  behind  him,  and  for  both  trains  there  to 
wait  the  coming  of  Fuller  with  the  regular  mail.  His 
orders  were  implicitly  obeyed ;  and  then  to  our  party 
recommenced  the  awful  trial  of  quiet  waiting.  One 
of  the  men  outside  was  directed  to  give  notice  to  those 
in  the  box-car  of  the  nature  of  the  detention,  and 
warn  them  to  be  ready  for  any  emergency.  Either 


UNFORESEEN  HINDRANCES.  83 

Brown  or  Knight,  I  think,  executed  this  commission. 
Leaning  against  our  car,  but  without  turning  his  eyes 
towards  it,  and  speaking  in  a  low  voice,  he  said,  "  We 
are  waiting  for  one  of  the  trains  the  rebels  are  running 
off  from  Mitchel.  If  we  are  detected  before  it  comes, 
we  will  have  to  fight.  Be  ready."  We  were  ready ; 
and  so  intolerable  is  suspense  that  most  of  us  would 
liave  felt  as  a  welcome  relief  the  command  to  throw 
open  our  door  and  spring  into  deadly  conflict. 

Slowly  the  leaden  moments  dragged  themselves  away. 
It  seems  scarcely  creditable,  but  it  is  literally  true,  that 
for  twenty-five  minutes  more  we  lay  on  that  side  track 
and  waited, — waited  with  minds  absorbed,  pulses  leap- 
ing, and  ears  strained  for  the  faintest  sound  which 
might  give  a  hint  as  to  our  destiny.  One  precious 
hour  had  we  wasted  at  Kingston, — time  enough  to 
have  burned  every  bridge  between  that  place  and  Dai- 
ton  !  The  whole  margin  of  time  on  which  we  had 
allowed  ourselves  to  count  was  two  hours ;  now  half 
of  that  was  thrown  away  at  one  station,  and  nothing 
accomplished.  We  dared  wait  no  longer.  Andrews 
decided  to  rush  ahead  with  the  intention  of  meeting 
this  extra  train  wherever  it  might  be  found,  and  forcing 
it  to  back  before  hi'm  to  the  next  siding,  where  he  could 
pass  it.  The  resolution  was  in  every  way  dangerous, 
but  the  danger  would  at  least  be  of  an  active  character. 
Just  at  this  moment  the  long-expected  whistle  was 
heard,  and  soon  the  train  came  into  plain  view,  bring- 
ing with  it  an  almost  interminable  string  of  cars.  The 
weight  and  length  of  its  train  had  caused  the  long  de- 
lay. Obedient  to  direction,  it  followed  the  first  extra 
down  the  main  track,  and  its  locomotive  was  a  long 
way  removed  from  the  depot  when  the  last  car  cleared 
the  upper  end  of  the  side  track  on  which  we  lay.  At 
length  it  had  got  far  enough  down,  and  it  was  possible 
for  as  to  push  on.  Andrews  instantly  ordered  the 
switch-tender  to  arrange  the  track  so  as  to  let  us  out. 

But  here  a  new  difficulty  presented  itself.     This  man 


g4  CAPTURING   A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

had  been  in  an  ill  humor  from  the  first,  and  was  novi 
fully  convinced  that  something  was  wrong.  Possibly 
the  tone  in  which  he  was  addressed  irritated  him  still 
mere.  He  therefore  responded  to  Andrews'  order  by 
a  surly  refusal,  and  hung  up  the  keys  in  the  station- 
house.  When  we  in  the  box-car  overheard  his  denial, 
we  were  sure  that  the  time  for  fighting  had  come.  There 
was  no  more  reason  for  dreading  the  issue  of  a  conflict 
at  this  station  than  at  any  other  point,  and  we  waited 
the  signal  with  the  confident  expectation  of  victory. 

But  even  a  victory  at  that  moment  would  have  been 
most  undesirable.  We  had  no  wish  to  shed  blood  un- 
necessarily. A  telegraph  office  was  at  hand,  and  it  was 
possible  that  before  the  wire  could  be  cut  a  message 
might  be  flashed  ahead.  There  were  also  engines  in 
readiness  for  prompt  pursuit,  and  while  we  might  have 
overcome  immediate  opposition  by  the  use  of  our  fire- 
arms, our  triumph  would  have  been  the  signal  for  a 
I'lose  and  terrible  chase. 

The  daring  coolness  jf  Andrews  removed  all  em- 
oarrassments.  While  men  are  hesitating  and  in  doubt, 
boldness  and  promptness  on  the  part  of  an  opponent 
are  almost  sure  to  carry  the  day.  Ceasing  to  address 
the  switch  -tender,  Andrews  walked  hurriedly  into  the 
station,  and  writh  the  truthful  remark  that  he  had  no 
more  time  to  waste,  took  down  the  key  and  began  to 
unlock  the  switch.  The  tender  cursed  him  terribly, 
and  called  for  some  to  arrest  him.  The  crowd  around 
also  disliked  the  action,  and  began  to  hoot  and  yell ; 
but  before  any  one  had  decided  as  to  what  ought  to  be 
done  Andrews  had  unlocked  and  changed  the  switch, 
and  waved  his  hand  for  the  engineer  to  come  on.  It 
was  an  inexpressible  relief  when  the  cars  moved  for- 
ward and  the  sounds  of  strife  died  out.  As  soon  as 
the  locomotive  passed  to  the  main  track,  Andrews 
tossed  the  keys  to  the  ruffled  owrner  of  them,  saying,  in 
his  blandest  manner,  "  Pardon  me,  sir,  for  being  in 
such  a  hurry,  but  the  Confederacy  can't  wait  for  every 


UNFORESEEN  HINDRANCES.  86 

man's  notions.  You'll  find  it  is  all  right,"  and  stepped 
on  board  his  engine.  The  excitement  gradually  ceased, 
and  no  thought  of  pursuit  was  entertained  until  start- 
ling intelligence  was  received  a  few  moments  later 
from  Big  Shanty. 

Before  describing  the  terrible  struggle  above  Kings- 
ton, it  will  be  well  to  narrate  the  operations  of  the  per- 
sons whose  train  had  been  so  unceremoniously  snatched 
from  them  at  Big  Shanty.  From  printed  accounts 
published  contemporaneously  by  several  of  those  en- 
gaged in  the  pursuit,  as  well  as  from  personal  responses 
to  inquiries  made  regarding  the  most  material  points, 
the  writer  is  confident  that  he  can  tell  the  strange  story 
without  essential  error.  It  is  a  striking  commentary 
on  the  promptness  of  the  seizure,  that  the  bystanders 
generally  reported  that  only  eight  men,  instead  of 
twenty,  had  been  observed  to  mount  the  train. 

William  A.  Fuller,  conductor,  Anthony  Murphy, 
manager  of  the  State  railroad  shops  at  Atlanta,  and 
Jefferson  Cain,  engineer,  stepped  off  their  locomotive, 
leaving  it  unguarded  save  by  the  surrounding  sentinels, 
and  in  perfect  confidence  took  their  seats  at  the  break- 
fast-table at  Big  Shanty.  But  before  they  had  tasted 
a  morsel  of  food  the  quick  ear  of  Murphy,  who  was 
seated  with  his  back  towards  the  window,  caught  the 
sound  of  escaping  steam,  and  he  exclaimed,  "  Fuller, 
who's  moving  your  train  ?"  Almost  simultaneously 
the  latter,  who  was  somewhat  of  a  ladies'  man,  and  was 
bestowing  polite  attentions  upon  two  or  three  fair  pas- 
sengers, saw  the  same  movement,  and  sprang  up,  shout- 
ing, "Somebody's  running  off  with  our  train!"  N: 
breakfast  was  eaten  then.  Everybody  rushed  through 
the  door  to  the  platform.  The  train  was  then  fully 
under  way,  just  sweeping  out  of  sight  around  the  first 
curve.  With  quick  decision  Fuller  shouted  to  Mur- 
phy n*id  Cain,  "  Come  on  !"  and  started  at  a  full  run 
after  *he  flying  train !  This  attempt  to  run  down  and 
cat'Ji  i  locomotive  by  a  foot-race  seemed  so  absurd  that 


86  CAPTURING    A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

as  the  three,  at  the  top  of  their  speed,  passed  around 
the  same  curve,  they  were  greeted  with  loud  laughter 
and  ironical  cheers  by  the  excited  multitude.  To  all 
appearances  it  was  a  foolish  and  hopeless  chase. 

Yet,  paradoxical  as  the  statement  may  seem,  this 
chase  on  foot  was  the  wisest  course  possible  for  Fuller 
and  his  companions.  What  else  could  they  do  ?  Had 
they  remained  quietly  iu  camp,  with  no  show  of  zeal, 
they  would  have  been  reproached  with  negligence  in 
not  guarding  their  train  more  carefully,  even  if  they 
were  not  accused  with  being  in  league  with  its  captors. 
As  they  run,  Fuller  explained  the  situation  and  his 
purposes  to  his  companions.  They  had  neither  electric 
battery  nor  engine.  Had  they  obtained  horses,  they 
would  necessarily  have  followed  the  common  road,  in- 
stead of  the  railroad,  and  if  they  thought  of  that  expe- 
dient at  all,  it  would  be  as  distasteful  to  railroad  men 
as  abandoning  their  ship  to  sailors,  and  they  preferred 
leaving  that  course  for  others.  It  would  have  been 
wise  for  those  who  could  think  of  nothing  else  to  do 
to  ride  as  mounted  couriers  to  the  stations  ahead ;  but 
whether  tin's  was  done  or  not  I  have  never  learned. 
Certainly  it  was  not  done  so  promptly  as  to  influence 
the  fortunes  of  the  day. 

But  the  truth  is  that  Fuller  and  Murphy  were  al 
first  completely  deceived  as  to  the  nature  of  the  even, 
which  had  taken  place.  They  had  been  warned  to 
guard  against  the  escape  of  conscript  deserters  from 
that  very  camp  ;  and  although  they  would  never  have 
suspected  an  attempt  on  the  part  of  the  conscripts  to 
escape  by  capturing  their  engine,  yet  when  it  was  seen 
to  dash  off,  the  thought  of  this  warning  was  naturally 
uppermost.  Even  then  Fuller  conjectured  that  they 
would  use  his  engine  only  to  get  a  mile  or  two  beyond 
the  guard  line,  and  then  abandon  it.  He  wa )  there- 
fore anxious  to  follow  closely  in  order  to  and  the 
engine  and  return  for  his  passengers  at  tl  j  earliest 
moment  possible.  Little  did  he  anticipat  the  full 


UNFORESEEN  HINDRANCES.  I 

magnitude  of  the  work  and  the  danger  before  him 
That  any  Federal  soldiers  were  within  a  hundred  miles 
of  Big  Shanty  never  entered  his  mind  or  that  of  any 
other  person. 

For  a  mile  or  two  the  three  footmen  ran  at  the  top 
of  their  speed,  straining  their  eyes  forward  for  any 
trace  of  the  lost  engine  which  they  expected  to  see 
halted  and  abandoned  at  almost  any  point  on  the  road. 
But  they  were  soon  partially  undeceived  as  to  the  char- 
acter of  their  enomies.  About  two  miles  from  the 
place  of  starting  they  found  the  telegraph  wire  sev- 
ered and  a  portion  of  it  carried  away.  The  fugitives 
were  also  reported  as  quietly  oiling  and  inspecting  their 
engine.  No  mere  deserters  would  be  likely  to  think 
of  this.  The  two  actions  combined  clearly  indicated 
the  intention  of  making  a  long  run,  but  who  the  men 
were  still  remained  a  mystery.  A  few  hundred  yards 
from  this  place  a  party  of  workmen  with  a  hand-car 
was  found,  and  these  most  welcome  reinforcements 
.were  at  once  pressed  into  the  service. 

Fuller's  plans  now  became  more  definite  and  deter- 
mined. He  had  a  good  hand-car  and  abundance  "of 
willing  muscle  to  work  it.  By  desperate  exertions,  by 
running  behind  the  car  and  pushing  it  up  the  steep 
grades,  and  then  mounting  and  driving  it  furiously 
down-hill  and  on  the  levels,  it  was  possible  to  make 
seven  or  eight  miles  an  hour ;  at  the  same  time,  Fuller 
knew  that  the  captive  engine,  if  held  back  to  run  on 
schedule  time,  as  the  reports  of  the  workmen  indicated, 
would  make  but  sixteen  miles  per  hour.  Fuller  bent 
all  his  thoughts  and  energies  towards  Kingston,  thirty 
miles  distant.  He  had  been  informed  of  the  extra 
trains  to  be  met  at  that  point,  and  was  justified  in  sup- 
posing that  the  adventurers  would  be  greatly  perplexed 
and  hindered  by  them,  even  if  they  were  not  totally 
stopped.  Had  the  seizure  taken  place  on  the  preceding 
day,  as  originally  planned,  he  might  well  have  de- 
spaired, foi  then  the  road  would  have  been  clear.  Yet 


88  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

he  had  one  other  resource,  as  will  appear  in  due  time, 
of  which  his  enemies  knew  nothing. 

Fuller  did  not  pause  to  consider  how  he  should  de- 
feat the  fugitives  when  he  had  overtaken  them,  and  he 
might  have  paid  dearly  for  this  rashness.  But  he  could 
rely  on  help  at  any  station,  and  when  he  had  obtained 
the  means  of  conveyance,  as  he  would  be  sure  to  do  at 
Kingston,  he  could  easily  find  an  overwhelming  force 
to  take  with  him.  This  Saturday  was  appointed  as  a 
general  muster  of  volunteers,  State  militia,  and  con- 
scripts, and  armed  soldiers  were  abundant  in  every 
village.  But  Fuller's  dominant  thought  was  that  his 
property — the  property  with  which  he  had  been  in- 
trusted— was  wrested  from  his  grasp,  and  it  was  his 
duty  to  recover  it,  at  whatever  of  personal  hazard.  That 
any  serious  harm  was  intended  to  the  railroad  itse-lf  he 
probably  did  not  yet  suspect. 

Talking  and  wearying  themselves  with  idle  conjec- 
tures, but  never  ceasing  to  work,  Fuller  and  his  party 
pressed  swiftly  on.  But  suddenly  there  was  a  crash,  a 
sense  of  falling,  and  when  the  shock  allowed  them  to 
realize  what  had  happened,  they  found  themselves 
floundering  in  a  ditch  half  filled  with  water,  and  their 
hand-car  imbedded  in  the  mud  beside  them  !  They 
had  reached  the  place  where  the  first  rail  had  been  torn 
from  the  track,  and  had  suffered  accordingly.  But  the 
bank  was,  fortunately  for  them,  not  very  high  at  that 
spot,  and  a  few  bruises  were  all  the  damage  they  sus- 
tained. Their  hand-car,  which  was  also  uninjured, 
was  lifted  on  the  track  and  driven  on  again.  This  in- 
cident increased  both  their  caution  and  their  respect 
for  the  men  before  them. 

Without  further  mishap  they  reached  Etowah  Sta- 
tion, on  the  northern  bank  of  the  river  of  the  same 
name.  Here  was  a  large  bridge,  which  the  Andrews 
party  might  have  burned  without  loss  of  time  had  they 
foreseen  the  long  detention  at  Kingston ;  but  its  de- 
struction was  not  a  part  of  their  plan,  and  it  was  suf- 


UNFORESEEN  HINDRANCES.  89 

fered  to  stand.  The  mind  of  Fuller  grew  very  anxious 
as  he  approached  this  station.  On  what  he  should  find 
there  depended,  in  all  probability,  his  power  to  over- 
take the  fugitives,  whose  intentions  seemed  more  for- 
midable with  each  report  he  received  of  their  actions. 
Andrews  had  firmly  believed  that  no  engine  for  pur- 
suit could  be  found  south  of  Kingston;  but  Fuller  had 
a  different  expectation. 

Extensive  iron-furnaces  were  located  on  the  Etowah 
River,  about  five  miles  above  the  station.  These  works 
were  connected  with  the  railroad  by  a  private  track, 
which  was  the  property  of  Major  Cooper,  as  well  as  the 
works  themselves.  Murphy  knew  that  Major  Cooper 
had  also  bought  an  engine  called  the  "  Yonah."  It  had 
been  built  in  the  shop  over  which  Murphy  presided, 
and  was  one  of  the  best  locomotives  in  the  State.  "  But 
where,"  Fuller  and  Murphy  asked  themselves,  "  is  this 
engine  now  ?"  If  it  was  in  view  of  the  adventurers  as 
they  passed,  they  had  doubtless  destroyed  it,  ran  it  off  the 
track,  or  carried  it  away  with  them.  They  could  not  af- 
ford to  neglect  such  an  element  in  the  terrible  game  they 
were  playing.  But  if  it  was  now  at  the  upper  end  of 
the  branch  at  the  mines,  as  was  most  probable,  it  would 
take  the  pursuers  five  miles  out  of  their  way  to  go  for 
it,  and  even  then  it  might  not  be  ready  to  start.  This 
diversion  could  not  be  afforded.  Fuller  and  Murphy 
had  come  nineteen  miles,  and  had  already  consumed 
two  hours  and  three-quarters.  The  adventurers  were 
reported  as  passing  each  station  on  time,  and  if  this 
continued  they  must  have  reached  Kingston  forty-five 
minutes  before  Fuller  and  his  companions  arrived  at 
Etowah,  thirteen  miles  behind  them.  One  hour  and  a 
half  more  to  Kingston, — this  was  the  very  best  that  could 
be  done  with  the  hand-car.  It  was  clear  that  if  the 
"  Yonah"  did  not  come  to  their  assistance,  they  were  a* 
effectually  out  of  the  race  as  if  on  the  other  side  of  the 
ocean.  Everything  now  hinged  on  the  position  of  thai 
one  engine. 

a* 


90  CAPTURING    A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

Here  we  may  pause  to  note  how  all  coincidences,  we 
might  almost  say  providences,  seemed  to  work  against 
the  bridge-burning  enterprise.  We  were  at  Kingston 
three-quarters  of  an  hour  before  our  pursuers  reached 
Etowah,  thirteen  miles  distant.  If  there  had  been  no 
extra  trains,  or  if  they  had  been  sharply  on  time,  so 
that  we  could  have  passed  the  three  with  a  delay  not 
exceeding  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes,  which  ought  to 
have  been  an  abundant  allowance,  every  bridge  above 
Kingston  would  have  been  in  ashes  before  sundown ! 
Or  if  the  delay  had  been  as  great  as  it  actually  was, 
«ven  then,  if  the  locomotive  "  Yonah"  had  occupied 
my  position  excepting  one,  the  same  result  would  have 
olio  wed. 

But  Fuller,  Murphy,  and  Cain,  with  the  several 
armed  men  they  had  picked  up  at  the  stations  passed, 
could  not  repress  shouts  of  exultation  when  they  saw 
the  old  "  Yonah"  standing  on  the  main  track,  ready 
fired  up,  and  headed  towards  Kingston.  It  had  just 
arrived  from  the  mines,  and  in  a  short  time  would  have 
returned  again.  Thus  a  new  element  of  tremendous 
importance,  which  had  been  ignored  in  all  our  calcula- 
tions, was  introduced  into  the  contest. 

The  pursuers  seized  their  inestimable  prize,  called  for 
all  the  volunteers  who  could  snatch  guns  at  a  moment's 
notice,  and  were  soon  swiftly  but  cautiously  rushing 
with  the  power  of  steam  towards  Kingston.  The  speed 
of  nearly  a  mile  a  minute  was  in  refreshing  contrast  to 
the  slow  and  laborious  progress  of  the  hand-car,  and 
they  were  naturally  jubilant.  But  what  lay  before  them 
at  Kingston  ?  The  frequent  obstructions  of  the  track, 
the  continued  cutting  of  the  telegraph,  and  especially 
the  cool  assumption  of  the  leader  of  the  adventurers  in 
calling  himself  a  Confederate  officer  of  high  rank  in 
charge  of  an  impressed  powder  train,  all  conspired  to 
deepen  their  conviction  that  some  desperate  scheme  was 
on  foot.  But  they  did  not  pause  long  to  listen  to  re- 
ports. Their  eyes  and  th^ir  thoughts  were  Ixuit  toward? 


UNFORESEEN  HINDRANCES.  9] 

Kingston.  Had  the  adventurers  been  stopped  there,  or 
had  they  surprised  and  destroyed  the  trains  met?  The 
pursuers  could  scarcely  form  a  conjecture  as  to  what 
was  before  them;  but  the  speed  with  which  they  were 
flying  past  station  after  station  would  soon  end  their 
suspense.  Even  the  number  of  men  on  the  flying  train 
was  a  matter  of  uncertainty.  At  the  stations  passed  ob- 
servers reported  that  only  four  or  five  were  seen ;  but 
the  track-layers  and  others  who  had  observed  them  at 
work  were  confident  of  a  much  larger  number, — twenty- 
five  or  thirty  at  the.  least.  Besides,  it  was  by  no  means 
sure  that  they  had  not  confederates  in  large  numbers  to 
co-operate  with  them  at  the  various  stations  along  the 
road.  Fuller  knew  about  how  many  persons  had  en- 
tered the  train  at  Marietta ;  but  it  was  not  sure  that 
these  were  all.  A  hundred  more  might  be  scattered 
along  the  way,  at  various  points,  ready  to  join  in  what- 
ever strange  plan  was  now  being  worked  out.  No  con- 
jecture of  this  kind  that  could  be  formed  was  a  particle 
more  improbable  than  the  startling  events  that  had  al- 
ready taken  place.  The  cool  courage  of  these  pursuers, 
who  determined  to  press  forward  and  do  their  own  duty 
at  whatever  risk,  cannot  be  too  highly  rated.  If  they 
arrived  at  Kingston  in  time  to  unmask  the  pretension 
of  the  mysterious  "Confederate  officer,"  there  would 
doubtless  be  a  desperate  fight ;  but  the  pursuers  could 
count  on  assistance  there  and  all  along  the  line. 

Fuller  reached  Kingston  at  least  an  hour  earlier  than 
would  have  been  possible  with  the  hand-car,  and  a 
single  glance  showed  that  the  adventurers  were  gone, 
and  his  hopes  of  arresting  them  at  that  point  were 
ended.  They  were,  however,  barely  out  of  sight,  and 
all  their  start  had  been  reduced  to  minutes.  But  here 
again  the  pursuit  was  checked.  The  foresight  of  An- 
drews had  blockaded  the  road  as  much  as  possible  with 
the  trains  which  had  so  long  hindered  his  own  move- 
ments. Two  large  and  heavy  trains  stood  on  the  main 
road  ;  one  of  the  two  side  tracks  was  owupied  by  the 


92  CAPTURING  A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

third  freight,  and  the  other  by  the  engine  of  the  Rom* 
branch.  There  was  no  ready  means  for  the  passage  of 
the  "  Yonah."  Some  precious  time  was  employed  in 
giving  and  receiving  information,  in  telling  of  the  seizure 
at  Big  Shanty,  and  hearing  of  the  deportment  of  An- 
drews and  his  men  at  Kingston.  Then  a  dispute  arose 
as  to  the  best  means  of  continuing  the  pursuit,  which 
threatened  to  disunite  Fuller  and  Murphy.  The  latter 
wished  to  continue  the  chase  with  the  "  Youah,"  which 
was  a  fine  engine,  with  large  wheels ;  but  Fuller  would 
not  wait  to  get  the  freights  out  of  the  way,  and,  jump- 
ing on  the  Rome  engine,  he  called  on  all  wno  wrere  will- 
ing to  assist  him  to  come  on.  A  large,  entnusiastic,  and 
well-armed  company  instantly  volunteered;  the  new 
engine,  the  "  Shorter,"  pulled  out,  and  Murphy  had  only 
time  to  save  himself  from  the  disgrace  01  being  left  be- 
hind by  jumping  on  the  hindmost  car  as  it  swept  past. 
With  all  the  time  lost  in  making  this  transfer,  and  in 
mutual  explanations,  the  pursuers  le/t  Kingston  just 
twenty  minutes  behind  the  Federals. 

What  Fuller  and  his  friends  learned  at  Kingston  left 
no  doubt  on  their  minds  that  some  deliberate  and  far- 
reaching  military  movement  was  on  foot.  iVhile  its  pre- 
cise nature  was  yet  concealed,  the  probability  that  the 
road  itself,  and  possibly  Confederate  towns  and  stores, 
were  to  be  destroyed,  was  freely  conceded.  All  agreed 
that  the  one  thing  to  be  done  was  to  follow  their  enemies 
closely,  and  thus  compel  them  to  turn  and  fight  or 
abandon  their  enterprise.  A  large  force — one  or  two 
hundred  well-armed  men — was  taken  on  board,  and  in- 
structions left  that  as  soon  as  the  track  could  be  cleared 
another  armed  train  was  to  follow  for  the  purpose  of 
rendering  any  needed  assistance. 


A  TERRIBLE  RAILROAD  CHASE. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

A   TERRIBLE   RAILROAD   CHASE. 

will  now  resume  the  direct  narrative. 
When  Kingston  was  left  behind,  it  was  believed  by 
a  AT  leader  that,  notwithstanding  all  our  vexatious  de- 
lavs,  we  still  had  a  margin  of  at  least  an  hour's  time. 
Our  movements  were  arranged  on  that  supposition. 
The  next  considerable .  station,  Adairsville,  was  about 
ten  miles  distant,  and  the  intervening  country  compara- 
tively level.  There  were  no  considerable  bridges  in 
this  space,  and  the  most  we  could  do  was  to  run  swiftly, 
and  occasionally  to  obstruct  the  track.  Our  speed  was 
increased  to  about  forty  miles  an  hour,  and  this  swift 
running,  after  our  long  halt  at  Kingston,  was  ex- 
quisitely delightful.  Looking  out  from  the  crevices 
of  the  box-car,  we  saw  the  hills  and  trees  gliding  swiftly 
by,  and  felt  that  each  moment  we  were  getting  farther 
away  from  the  foes  who  had  so  long  surrounded  us, 
and  nearer  safety  and  triumph.  While  we  were  ac- 
tually under  way  our  prospects  did  not  yet  seem  very 
unfavorable.  There  were  yet  one  freight  and  one  pas- 
senger train  to  meet,  which  we  would  now  encounter 
an  hour  farther  south,  because  of  our  long  hindrance ; 
but  we  felt  confident  of  our  power  to  deceive  or  over- 
power them,  and  they  did  not  embarrass  our  running 
because  they  were  on  the  regular  schedule.  The  freight 
was  now  almost  due  at  Adairsville,  and  we  expected 
the  passenger  train  to  overtake  and  go  ahead  of  it  from 
that  point.  If  they  were  both  on  time  we  would  also 
meet  them  there,  and  then  have  an  absolutely  open  road 
to  Chattanooga.  It  will  show  the  tremendous  risks 
that  encompassed  our  enterprise,  when  we  reflect  that 


94  CAPTURING    A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

so  trifling  a  circumstance  as  the  delay  or  the  misplace- 
ment of  a  train  could  introduce  an  "  if"  into  our  most 
hopeful  plans. 

A  short  distance  south  of  Adairsville  we  again 
stopped,  and  Andrews  called  us  to  come  forth  and 
work  with  a  will.  No  exhortation  was  needed.  John 
Scott,  as  usual,  climbed  the  telegraph-pole,  and  the 
wire  was  soon  severed.  Two  or  three  rails  were  slowly 
and  painfully  battered  loose  with  our  iron  bar,  which 
still  constituted  our  only  instrument  for  track-lifting. 
These  were  loaded  on  the  car  to  carry  away  with  us. 
There  happened  to  be  a  large  number  of  cross-ties 
lying  near,  and  these  we  also  loaded  up  for  future  use. 
When  all  was  done  we  moved  on,  feeling  that  we  had 
provided  for  the  delay  or  destruction  of  any  train  that 
might  pursue.  It  was  also  probable  that  the  first  train 
which  met  us  at  Adairsville  would  be  wrecked.  This 
was  not  our  design,  as  we  did  not  relish  wanton  mis- 
chief; but  there  was  no  safe  way  of  giving  warning, 
and  a  wrecked  train  would  have  been  a  considerable 
obstruction  of  the  track. 

We  reached  Adairsville  before  the  expected  freight, 
but  had  only  just  taken  our  place  on  the  side  track 
when  its  whistle  was  heard.  When  it  came  up,  An- 
drews, who  still  personated  a  Confederate  officer,  and 
exacted  and  received  the  obedience  which  in  those  days 
of  conscription  and  impressment  was  readily  yielded  to 
military  authority,  ordered  the  train  to  be  run  past  the 
station  and  back  again  on  the  side  track  behind  his 
own,  to  wait  for  the  expected  passenger  train.  The 
usual  explanations  about  the  powder  train  were  re- 
peated to  credulous  ears.  Then  came  five  minutes  of 
suspense  and  waiting.  The  train  was  behind  time, — 
a  trifling  matter  in  itself,  but,  in  our  situation,  each 
minute  might  turn  the  scale  between  death  and  life. 
We  could  not  afford  to  repeat  the  experience  of  Kings- 
ton. Not  one  bridge  had  yet  been  burned,  and  all  we 
could  show  for  our  hazard,  beside  our  captured  train. 


A    TERRIBLE   RAILROAD    CUASE.  95 

were  a  few  cross-ties  and  lifted  rails.  After  a  whis- 
pered word  of  consultation  with  his  engineer,  who  was 
willing  to  assume  the  most  deadly  risks  rather  than  to 
lie  still,  Andrews  remarked  to  the  bystanders  that  a 
government  powder  express  must  not  be  detained  by 
any  number  of  passenger  trains,  and  then  gave  the 
word,  "  Go  ahead !" 

We  started  quite  moderately,  but,  as  soon  as  the  sta- 
tion was  out  of  sight,  we  noticed  a  wonderful  accelera- 
tion of  speed.  The  cars  seemed  almost  to  leap  from  the 
track,  and  we  whirled  from  side  to  side  at  a  bewilder- 
ing rate.  There  was  scarcely  any  slackening  for  curves 
or  grades,  and  our  whistle  rang  out  with  scarcely  a 
moment's  cessation.  In  the  box-car  we  could  retain 
no  position  for  more  than  an  instant,  and  were  jostled 
over  each  other  and  against  the  sides  of  the  car  much 
oftener  than  was  pleasant.  No  one  of  us  had  ever 
rode  at  such  a  rate  before.  Though  we  had  no  means 
of  measuring  the  speed,  none  of  us  estimated  it  at  less 
than  a  mile  a  minute.  What  was  the  meaning  of  such 
a  break-neck  pace  ?  Had  Andrews  discovered  that  w« 
were  pursued,  and  was-  he  making  a  desperate  effort  to 
escape  from  the  enemy  ?  Or  was  he  simply  hurrying 
to  the  bridges  we  were  to  burn  ?  Such  questions  were 
easier  asked  than  answered,  for  two  cars  and  the  tender 
intervened  between  us  and  the  locomotive,  on  which 
our  leader  was.  At  any  rate,  the  moments  were  rap- 
idly carrying  us  towards  our  own  lines,  and  a  very  few 
hours  of  such  running  would  see  us  delivered  from  the 
series  of  perils  which  had  so  long  environed  us.  We 
hail  learned  that  just  beyond  Calhoun,  a  station  only  ten 
miles  from  Adairsville,  there  was  a  large  bridge,  which 
we  knew  was  marked  for  destruction.  If  that  was 
passed  without  stopping,  we  would  be  convinced  that 
an  enemy  was  on  our  track,  and  that  the  race  was  sim- 
ply for  life.  A  few  minutes  would  decide.  But  in  the 
mean  time,  as  an  enemy  might  be  following  us,  it  oc- 
oiirred  to  the  writer  that  i*  would  be  well  to  continue 


t)(j  CAPTURING   A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

obstructing  the  track.  This  was  accomplished  by 
breaking  open  the  hind  end  of  the  last  box-car,  and 
shoving  out  one  by  one  the  ties  previously  loaded.  A 
part  only  of  the  ties  on  board  were  thus  employed,  as 
we  thought  it  possible  that  the  remainder  might  be 
more  useful  in  other  directions.  Many  of  those  sprin- 
kled on  the  track  showed  a  perverse  disposition  to 
jump  off,  but  we  felt  sure  tha,"  enough  remained  to 
make  a  pursuer  cautious.  Nothing  more  impressed  us 
with  the  fearful  speed  of  our  train  than  the  manner  in 
which  these  ties  seemed  instantly  to  vanish  when  they 
touched  the  ground. 

By  thus  exerting  the  full  speed  of  the  engine  An- 
drews hoped  to  reach  Calhoun  before  the  belated  pas- 
senger train  should  arrive.  The  engineer  stood  with 
his  hand  on  the  lever  ready  to  reverse  his  engine  the 
moment  an  opposing  train  was  sighted.  The  opeb 
character  of  the  country  in  this  part  of  the  route  per- 
mitted a  good  outlook.  The  whistle  was  also  kep* 
sounding  that  an  opposite  train  might  be  warned  an(> 
checked.  It  was  the  intention  of  Andrews,  in  case  ol 
meeting  the  expected  train,  to  reverse  his  own  engint 
only  long  enough  to  escape  the  danger  of  collision, 
and  then  to  persuade  or  compel  the  other  to  back  be- 
fore him  to  the  first  siding.  This  lightning-like  run 
was  bold  and  full  of  peril,  but  it  was  wise.  Had  the 
same  risk  been  promptly  assumed  at  Kingston  the  whole 
future  of  the  enterprise  would  have  been  different.  Bui 
we  reached  Calhoun  before  any  train  was  met.  When 
we  slackened  speed,  just  before  arriving  at  the  station, 
we  shoved  out  one  more  cross-tie,  and  then  careful  H 
concealed  the  hole  in  the  car  by  piling  other  ties  across 
it.  As  we  drew  nearer,  great  was  the  satisfaction  ol 
Andrews  and  his  engineer  when  they  saw  the  belater 
passenger  train — our  last  obstacle — lying  quietly  at  thf 
station.  It  had  been  just  starting,  but,  on  hearing  >ur 
whistle,  it  awaited  our  arrival.  We  ran  down  almost 
against  it  and,  without  getting  off  his  locomotive,  An- 


A.    TERRIBLE   RAILROAD    CHASE.  97 

drews  shouted  his  orders  to  have  the  road  cleared  for 
an  impressed  powder  train.  The  news  from  the  north 
and  west — the  panic  causal  by  the  rumored  approach 
of  General  Mitchel — made  this  sudden  demand  seem 
less  unreasonable,  and  it  was  unhesitatingly  obeyed. 
The  passenger  train  was  switched  out  of  the  way,  and 
we  glided  smoothly  by  the  last  train  we  were  to  meet. 
Thus,  at  length,  we  had  reached  the  ground  where 
bridge-burning  was  to  begin,  and  all  obstacles  were  ou< 
of  the  way ;  what  could  hinder  full  and  decisive  suc- 
cess? 

Fuller  and  Murphy  had  not  left  Kingston  rnanj 
minutes  before  they  became  conscious  of  the  error  they 
had  committed  in  exchanging  the  "Yonah"  for  the 
"  Shorter."  The  latter  was  a  weak  engine  with  small 
wheels.  It  was  now  forced  to  the  utmost,  oil  being 
freely  used  with  the  wood  in  the  furnace ;  but  they 
were  unable  to  equal  the  tremendous  speed  with  which 
they  had  made  the  previous .  stage  of  their  journey. 
Though  they  had  but  two  or  three  cars  and  the  advan- 
tage of  a  level  and  unobstructed  track,  they  could  not 
exceed  forty  miles  an  hour.  They  maintained  a  vigi- 
lant lookout,  but  ran  with  the  steam-valve  entirely 
open,  while  Murphy  and  Cain  both  grasped  the  lever, 
ready  to  use  their  combined  weight  and  strength  in 
reversing  the  motion  if  any  obstacle  should  be  descried. 
Their  vigilance  was  soon  approved.  They  observed 
the  point  at  which  we  had  removed  rails,  and,  by  re- 
versing, were  able  to  arrest  their  motion  just  on  the 
edge  of  the  break.  But  here  they  found  themselves 
confronted  with  a  terrible  obstacle.  They  had  no  rails 
to  replace  those  that  had  been  carried  off.  Some  in- 
struments for  track-laying  were  on  board,  and  it  was 
suggested  to  tear  up  rails  behind  and  place  them  in  the 
break.  This  double  labor  required  too  much  time  to 
suit  the  ardent  temper  of  Fuller  and  Murphy.  At 
once  they  repeated  the  old  tactics  which  aloue  had  given 
them  any  hope  of  success.  They  abandoned  their  en 
«  9  » 


98  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

giiie  and  ran  ahead  once  more  on  foot.  The  remainder 
of  their  company  remained  behind,  and  probably  did, 
after  a  time,  succeed  in  lifting  rails  behind  their  engine 
and  laying  them  down  before,  as  a  contemporaneous 
account  asserts ;  but  they  had  no  further  real  part  in 
the  chase. 

Before  the  two  footmen  had  gone  far  they  encoun- 
tered the  regular  freight  train  that  we  had  met  at 
Adairsville.  Thus  their,  delay  was  reduced  to  a  very 
small  amount.  It  seems  that  almost  as  soon  as  An- 
drews and  his  party  had  left  Adairsville  for  their  rapid 
flight  towards  Calhoun,  this  train,  guided  either  by  the 
decision  of  the  conductor,  or  by  a  telegraphic  message 
from  the  management  of  the  road,  started  southward, 
and  were  met  no  more  than  a  mile  or  two  on  their  way 
by  the  dauntless  pursuers.  Great  was  the  amazement 
of  the  men  on  the  freight  train  to  learn  that  the  fine- 
looking  Confederate  officer  with  whom  they  had  been 
talking  five  minutes  before  was  probably  a  "  Yankee" 
engaged  in  the  most  daring  exploit  of  the.  war.  But 
not  much  time  was  allowed  for  the  indulgence  of  any 
emotion.  Fuller  promptly  took  command  of  the  train 
and  backed  it  with  all  possible  speed  to  Adairsville. 
Its  engine,  the  "  Texas,"  was  known  to  Fuller  as  one  of 
the  largest  and  best  in  the  State.  While  backing  and 
pushing  the  whole  train  of  nearly  twenty  cars  it  made 
the  most  rapid  speed  that  they  had  yet  attained. 

But  still  greater  speed  was  necessary,  and  by  throwing 
all  but  one  or  two  cars  on  the  side  track  at  Adairsville, 
the  noble  engine  was  relieved  and  enabled  to  show  all 
its  fine  qualities.  No  turn-table  being  at  hand,  it  had 
still  to  be  run  backward ;  but  that  position  does  not  ma- 
terially lessen  the  power  of  an  engine,  though  the  risk 
of  accident  is  somewhat  increased.  This  risk  had  been 
taken,  however,  in  so  many  instances  by  the  desperate 
pursuers,  and  with  perfect  safety,  that  they  were  will- 
ing to  tempt  fortune  still  further.  The  engineer  of 
the  captured  train  had  been  left  behind  at  the  last 


A    TERRIBLE   RAILROAD    CHASE.  99 

break,  but  his  place  was  ably  supplied  by  Petei 
Bracken,  of  the  "  Texas."  Starting  from  Adairsville 
with  a  full  head  of  steam,  the  distance  of  ten  miles  to 
Calhoun  was  run  in  twelve  minutes,  and  even  this  tre- 
mendous speed  would  have  been  exceeded  but  for  the 
slight  delay  caused  by  the  ties  dropped  on  the  track. 
When  one  of  these  obstructions  was  seen,  Fuller,  who 
had  stationed  himself  for  that  purpose  on  the  end  of 
the  tender  which  ran  ahead,  would  jump  off,  remove 
the  tie,  and  be  back  to  his  place  almost  before  the  en 
gine  ceased  to  move.  The  uniform  mode  of  stopping 
to  clear  the  track  was  by  reversing  the  engine.  Aside 
from  the  time  lost  in  these  stops,  the  running  must 
have  exceeded  a  mile  per  minute.  This  exceeding  ra- 
pidity prevented  any  loss  of  distance  in  this  stage  of 
the  pursuit. 

At  Calhoun,  Fuller  scarcely  made  a  full  stop.  He 
told  his  tale  in  a  few  words  and  called  for  volunteers. 
A  number  came  just  as  he  was  moving  on  again  ;  in- 
deed, after  the  train  was  well  under  way,  he  secured  a 
still  more  valuable  prize.  The  telegraph  managers  al 
Chattanooga  had  found  that  the  wires  were  broken,  and 
were  endeavoring  to  discover  the  source  of  mischief. 
By  telegraphing  to  different  stations  and  asking  for  re- 
plies, they  could  easily  make  an  approximate  estimate. 
But  the  difficulty  was  coming  nearer :  they  discovered 
that  one  station  after  another  was  being  cut  off  from 
communication  with  headquarters.  South  of  Calhoun 
they  could  get  no  reply  at  the  time  the  passenger  train 
reached  Dalton.  They  had,  therefore,  directed  the 
only  operator  at  that  station — a  mere  boy — to  leave  his 
post  and  go  to  Calhoun  for  the  purpose  of  discovering 
and  remedying  the  mischief.  Fuller  recognized  him 
on  the  platform,  and  reached  out  his  hand,  shouting, 
"  Come !"  The  boy  took  hold  and  was  lifted  on  the 
flying  engine. 

With  no  thought  of  our  deadly  peril  we  had  stopped 
a  short  distance  above  Calhoun  to  cut  the  telegraph 


100  CAPTURING    A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

and  oil  the  engine.  Several  of  us  were  also  engaged 
in  battering  out  the  spikes  preparatory  to  lifting  an- 
other rail.  As  we  expected  to  spend  ten  or  fifteen 
minutes  in  burning  the  large  bridge  which  spanned  the 
Oostenaula  River,  a  little  distance  from  us,  Andrews 
thought  it  better  that  we  should  have  a  rail  up  in  or- 
der to  guard  against  the  possibility  of  the  train  we  had 
just  passed  being  turned  back  after  us  in  time  to  inter- 
rupt our  work.  It  might  have  been  better,  as  we  were 
tempted  to  think  afterwards,  if  we  had  begun  on  the 
bridge  directly  ;  but  it  was  absolutely  necessary  to  cut 
the  wire,  and  the  lifting  of  the  rail  would  not  take  an 
additional  minute. 

The  engine  was  inspected,  and  found  to  be  still  in 
perfect  condition,  though  both  wood  and  water  were 
running  low;  the  wire  was  severed;  and  eight  of  us 
had  just  taken  hold  of  the  loose  end  of  a  rail,  out  of 
which  the  spikes  had  been  battered,  and  were  trying  to 
pull  the  other  end  loose  also.  But  it  was  too  firmly 
fixed,  and  we  were  about  to  release  it,  and  wait  the 
taking  out  of  a  few  more  spikes,  when,  away  in  the  dis- 
tance, we  heard  the  whistle  of  an  engine  in  pursuit ! 
The  effect  was  magical.  With  one  convulsive  effort 
the  rail  was  broken  asunder,  and  the  whole  party 
pitched  in  a  heap  over  the  low  embankment.  No  one 
was  hurt,  and  we  were  on  our  feet  in  a  moment. 

It  did  not  require  many  moments  to  realize  the  situ- 
ation. Our  enemies  were  upon  us  at  last !  Their  train 
was  in  plain  sight.  We  could  even  see  that  they  Avere 
well  armed.  There  seemed  to  be  no  resource  but 
flight. 

But  from  whence  came  this  train?  The  facts  with 
which  the  reader  is  already  familiar  were  all  unknown 
to  us,  and  the  apparition  of  the  pursuers  all  the  more 
terrible  on  that  account.  We  knew  the  difficulties 
against  which  we  had  struggled,  and  little  thought  that 
our  pursuers  had  encountered  nearly  equal  obstacles, 
over  which  they  had  so  far  been  marvellously  victorious 


A    TERRIBLE   RAILROAD   CHASE.  1Q1 

Greater  surprise  would  not  liave  been  created  in  our 
ranks  had  the  locomotive,  to  whose  scream  we  unwill- 
ingly listened,  dropped  from  the  sky  !  One  plausible 
conjecture  only  presented  itself  as  to  the  presence  of  • 
this  train,  and,  if  this  one  was  correct,  it  could  be  but 
the  earnest  of  speedy  defeat  and  death.  Possibly  a 
telegraphic  message  from  the  other  side  of  Big  Shanty 
had  traversed  the  wide  circuit  of  more  than  two  thou- 
sand miles  past  Atlanta,  Richmond,  Chattanooga,  and 
back  again  to  Calhoun,  reaching  the  latter  place  just 
before  the  wire  was  cut,  and  inducing  them  to  start 
back  the  train  we  had  just  met  at  full  speed  after  us. 
All  this  was  possible, — at  least  it  seemed  so  to  those  of 
us  who  were  not  in  the  secret  of  the  wide-spread  system 
of  military  operations, — unless,  indeed,  the  foresight  of 
our  government  had  provided  at  this  very  time  for  the 
severing  of  the  telegraph  on  the  Carolina  coast,  at  which 
place  alone  this  circuit  came  within  striking  distance  of 
the  Union  lines. 

But  we  had  no  time  for  idle  conjectures.  The  fact 
was  patent  that  a  train  was  bearing  down  upon  us  at 
full  speed.  "Shall  we  stand  and  fight?  Shall  we 
attack  them  now  ?"  were  questions  eagerly  asked. 

But  Andrews  still  hesitated  to  depart  from  the  course 
pursued  so  far.  We  had  the  rail  broken  which  would 
arrest  the  enemy,  and  probably  give  us  time  to  fire  the 
bridge  ahead.  Then  all  might  yet  be  well, — that  is  if 
the  stations  ahead  were  not  warned,  and  the  track  ob- 
structed before  us.  Should  that  prove  the  case,  then 
to  stand  and  sell  our  lives  as  dearly  as  possible,  or, 
abandoning  our  engine,  to  fly  on  foot  across  the  coun- 
try, were  all  the  alternatives.  The  crisis  of  our  fate 
drew  near,  and  our  hardest  and  sharpest  work  lay  just 
ahead. 

Influenced  by  such  considerations,  which  were  then 
mainly  confined  to  his  own  mind,  Andrews,  without  a 
moment's  hesitation,  gave  the  signal,  which  was  as 

quickly   obeyod,  for   mounting    the   train.     The   en- 

o* 


102  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

gineer  threw  the  valve  wide  open,  and,  with  a  spring 
that  threw  us  from  our  feet,  the  noble  steed  was  once 
more  careering  forward.  To  his  companions  on  the 
locomotive  Andrews  said,  quietly,  as  he  ever  spoke  in 
times  of  deepest  excitement,  "Push  her,  boys;  let  her 
do  her  best.  We  must  lose  no  time  in  getting  to  the 
bridge  above."  Some  of  the  engine  oil  was  thrown 
into  the  furnace,  and  the  already  fiery  pace  sensibly 
quickened.  The  problem  seemed  perfectly  simple.  If 
we  could  reach  the  bridge,  and  get  it  well  on  fire  in 
less  time  than  our  enemies  could  piece  out  the  broken 
rail,  we  had  still  a  chance  of  life  and  success.  If  not, 
more  desperate  means  became  necessary.  The  speed 
of  the  engine  might  save  us  a  precious  half-minute,  and 
on  such  a  narrow  margin  everything  turned.  Nobly 
did  our  good  old  locomotive  respond  to  the  call !  Rock- 
ing, whirling,  bounding, — it  seemed  a  marvel  that  some 
of  the  box-cars  were  not  hurled  from  the  track.  Inside 
these  cars  all  was  action.  Though  we  could  scarcely 
keep  one  position  a  moment,  idleness  could  not  now  be 
indulged.  We  knew  that  the  time  for  concealment  had 
passed,  and  we  wrought  with  flying  fingers  in  prepara- 
tion for  our  incendiary  work.  The  forward  end  of  our 
box-car,  and  both  ends  of  the  others,  were  knocked  out 
by  employing  one  of  the  heavy  cross-ties  as  a  battering- 
ram,  and  the  greater  part  of  the  sides  were  loosened  in 
the  same  manner,  and  torn  into  fragments  for  kindling. 
This  destruction  of  barriers  also  opened  a  way  of  com- 
munication with  the  engine.  Andrews  approved  what 
we  had  done,  and  told  us  frankly  that  our  lives  prob- 
ably depended  on  the  number  of  seconds  we  consumed 
in  getting  the  bridge  on  fire.  Just  then  an  exclamation 
of  wonder  and  dismay  from  our  keen-sighted  fireman, 
Alfred  Wilson,  drew  attention.  He  declared  positively 
that  he  saw  the  smoke  of  the  pursuing  engine  still  fol- 
lowing us !  It  was  scarcely  credible,  but  he  was  so 
positive,  and  it  was  so  important  to  know  the  truth, 
that  our  speed  w^s  slackened  to  ascertain.  In  a  mo 


A    TERRIBLE  RAILROAD   CHASE.  1Q3 

ment  a  whistle,  clear  and  unmistakable,  rang  out  from 
beyond  a  curve  we  had  just  passed.  All  doubt  was  at 
an  end;  but  our  surprise  and  consternation  were  as 
great  as  when  the  train  was  first  discovered  in  pursuit. 
There  had  been  no  time  to  lay  again  the  rail  we  had 
taken  up,  and  the  broken  half  of  which  we  still  had 
with  us.  It  seemed  a  miracle  wrought  against  us.  But 
Andrews'  resources  were  not  yet  exhausted.  He  or- 
dered another  effort,  which  might  yet  give  us  time  to 
fire  the  bridge  ahead,  that  he  was  most  unwilling  to 
pass  without  destroying.  The  locomotive  was  re- 
versed, and  our  kindling-wood,  with  most  of  the  ties, 
carried  forward,  and  the  moment  we  began  to  move 
backward  the  hindmost  car  was  uncoupled.  The  pur- 
suing locomotive  was  then  in  fearful  proximity.  We 
could  see  that  it  was  running  backward,  and  that  a 
number  of  men  were  crowded  on  it.  Almost  at  the 
same  moment  its  machinery  was  reversed  and  ours 
turned  forward.  As  we  left  them  at  lightning  speed 
we  could  just  see  that  their  velocity  was  well  checked 
before  they  touched  our  abandoned  car. 

But  this  was  not  yet  sufficient.  As  we  came  to  the 
next  slight  up-grade  the  same  manoeuvre  was  repeated, 
and  our  second  car  flung  back  at  the  enemy  in  like 
manner.  The  time  lost  in  doing  this  brought  them 
again  near  us,  and  we  saw  that  they  were  pushing  our 
first  car  before  them. 

But  how  had  they  passed  the  broken  rail?  For 
years  I  could  get  no  satisfactory  information  on  this 
subject.  Some  Confederate  accounts  spoke  of  a  rail 
being  taken  up  behind  and  laid  down  before  the  en- 
gine. But  the  time  was  too  short  to  permit  such  an 
action.  That  a  stop  could  be  made,  a  rail  taken  up, 
spiked  down  again,  and  our  engine,  running  faster  than 
the  wind,  overtaken, — all  of  this  well  inside  of  five 
minutes, — was  incredible.  Very  probably  this  course 
was  adopted  in  the  case  of  the  next  train  which  was 
pursuing  not  far  behind.  Other  Confederate  accounts 


104  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

say  nothing  about  this  rail,  while  a  few  assert  that  it 
was  not  broken  at  all,  but  only  loosened  and  left  in  it? 
place.  But  having  personally  helped  in  the  desperate 
pull,  having  fallen  down  the  bank  with  the  party,  and 
carried  one  end  of  the  rail  to  put  on  our  car,  besides 
having  my  left  hand  long  suffer  from  being  clasped 
ander  the  hand  of  William  Campbell,  the  strongest 
man  of  our  party,  I  naturally  cannot  accept  this  ex- 
planation. Conductor  Fuller  gave  another  solution  of 
the  mystery  scarcely  less  strange,  which  I  repeat  as  he 
gave  it  to  me.  He  said  that  when  he  saw  our  engine 
start  on  from  this  point  he  could  see  no  obstruction,  and 
allowed  the  train  to  continue  at  high  speed.  A  moment 
after  he  noticed  a  short  blank  in  one  of  the  rails.  A 
terrible  fear  swept  over  him,  for  it  was  now  too  late  to 
stop.  But  quick  as  a  lightning-flash  he  noticed  an- 
other fact, — that  the  place  of  the  missing  rail  was  on 
the  inside  of  a  sharp  curve.  He  explained  to  me  that 
a  train  at  a  very  high  rate  of  speed  throws  the  most  of 
its  weight  on  the  outside  rail  of  a  curve,  which  is  always 
made  a  little  higher  than  the  other.  Had  an  outside 
rail  been  broken  the  destruction  of  their  train  would 
have  been  inevitable,  but  the  break  was  on  the  inside. 
With  that  rapid  decision  which  the  better  class  of  rail- 
road men  learn  to  exercise,  he  signalled  to  the  engineer, 
"  Faster ;  faster  yet  1"  There  was  a  sharp  jolt,  and  the 
locomotive  and  the  cars  attached  were  on  the  other  side 
of  the  obstruction  with  their  speed  not  even  abated. 
The  next  train  which  followed  was  the  passenger  train 
that  we  had  met  at  Calhoun,  which  had  also  been 
turned  back  after  us.  This  train  had  track-layers  and 
instruments  on  board,  and  did  very  quickly  repair  the 
damage ;  but  if  Fuller  had  waited  even  that  long  the 
bridge  over  the  Oostenaula  would  have  been  wrapped 
in  flames  before  his  arrival. 

Fuller  saw  the  car  we  dropped,  and  by  promptly 
having  his  engine  reversed,  reduced  the  collision  to 
merely  a  smart  shock.  It  was  dextrously  coupled  fast 


A    TERRIBLE   RAILROAD   CHASE.  1Q5 

and  driven  forward  at  full  speed.  The  second  car  we 
dropped  was  treated  in  the  same  manner,  and  the 
enemy's  speed  was  scarcely  diminished.  The  time  lost 
in  dropping  the  cars  was  about  as  long  as  that  lost  in 
coupling  to  them. 

Thus  in  the  short  space  between  Calhoun  and  the 
Oostenaula  River  three  hindrances  or  perils,  the  great- 
ness of  which  will  be  best  appreciated  by  railroad  men, 
were  overcome  by  the  skill  and  daring  of  Fuller's 
band,  and  in  spite  of  them  they  attained  a  rate  of  run- 
ning on  this  crooked  and  irregular  road  which  would 
have  been  most  remarkable  on  a  perfectly  smooth  and 
unobstructed  track. 

Now  the  Oostenaula  bridge  was  in  sight,  and  we 
slackened  speed  for  a  desperate  attempt  to  burn  it. 
But  before  we  could  come  to  a  full  stop  the  pursuer 
was  close  upon  us,  and  very  reluctantly  we  steamed 
over  the  bridge  and  continued  our  flight.  The  pros- 
pect was  rapidly  darkening  before  us.  It  was  certain 
that  one  of  the  trains  we  had  met  at  Adairsville  or 
Calhoun  was  turned  back  after  us  and  driven  with  the 
utmost  determination.  Of  all  conjectures  to  account 
for  this  pursuit,  that  of  a  telegram  by  the  way  of  Rich- 
mond was  most  probable  and  most  portentous.  If  this 
was  really  the  case,  our  fate  was  sealed.  With  a  re- 
lentless pursuer  hanging  upon  our  heels,  and  the  towns 
ahead  warned  and  ready  to  dispute  our  passage,  human 
bravery  and  foresight  would  avail  nothing.  I  have 
no  doubt  the  mind  of  Andrews  was  weighed  down  and 
perplexed  by  the  uncertainty  of  our  situation.  Could 
we  have  known  even  as  much  of  the  number  ard  plans 
of  our  foes  as  they  knew  of  ours — above  all,  could  we 
have  known  whether  the  road  was  open  before  us — the 
problem  would  have  been  simpler.  Yet  we  had  but 
two  hopes :  to  wreck  the  train  behind  us,  a  task  of  no 
small  difficulty  now  they  were  on  their  guard ;  or,  fail- 
ing in  this,  to  distance  them  in  running  far  enough  to 
lift  some  rails  or  burn  one  of  the  bridges  still  ahead. 


£06  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

If  only  one  bridge  could  be  burned,  it  would  stop  the 
pursuit  for  the  time  and  leave  us  free  to  encounter  the 
opposition  before  us. 

Accordingly  the  jaded  "General"  was  spurred  to 
full  speed.  The  load  was  now  lighter,  and  as  much 
of  the  kindling  as  we  thought  it  prudent  to  spare  was 
used  in  putting  the  furnace  into  a  fiercer  blaze.  \Ve 
also  resumed  the  practice  of  dropping  cross-ties  from 
the  rear  of  the  car.  These  efforts  had  a  marked  effect 
In  delaying  the  pursuers,  for  their  smoke  and  whistle 
soon  ceased  to  disturb  us.  But  while  running  at  this 
violent  rate  we  had  passed  Resaca  and  thought  it  pru- 
dent to  again  cut  the  telegraph.  While  stopping  for 
this  purpose  the  writer  took  a  rail  which  had  been  bent 
in  lifting  it,  and  placed  it  so  that  one  end  was  held 
firmly  under  the  track,  and  the  other  projected  at  a 
little  elevation,  towards  the  pursuing  train.  This  was 
not  more  than  accomplished  when  that  train  was  heard 
again,  and  we  mounted  our  engine  and  sped  onward. 
As  the  rail  was  small  and  dark,  the  enemy  ran  right 
on  it  before  it  was  observed,  and  Fuller  afterwards  de- 
clared that  if  it  had  been  a  little  lower,  it  would  have 
been  sure  to  wreck  them.  But  as  it  was,  the  end  struck 
the  edge  of  the  car,  and  it  was  knocked  harmlessly 
from  the  track. 

Above  Tilton  we  succeeded  in  getting  a  full  supply 
of  water  from  the  tank.  This  was  most  welcome,  as 
the  water  was  nearly  exhausted.  The  wood-station 
was  at  another  place,  and  as  our  supply  ran  low  we 
threw  on  fence-rails  or  any  other  available  fuel  when- 
ever stopping  to  cut  the  wires. 

Our  condition  was  now  widely  different  and  more 
unfavorable  than  it  was  a  short  time  before.  With 
only  one  car,  and  that  almost  torn  to  pieces,  even  the 
magnificent  coolness  and  self-possession  of  Andrews 
could  scarcely  avert  suspicion  at  any  station  where  we 
might  be  driven  to  halt.  And  with  all  our  efforts  we 
could  never  get  much  more  than  out  of  sight  of  out 


A    TERRIBLE   RAILROAD   CHASE.  1Q? 

pursuers.  The  time  required  for  cutting  wires  and 
spent  in  trying  to  take  up  track  compensated  almost 
exactly  for  the  time  our  pursuers  spent  in  removing 
the  obstructions  we  continued  to  throw  before  them. 
With  all  their  efforts  they  could  not  get  within  easy 
gunshot  of  us;  neither  could  we  distance  them  far 
enough  for  the  decisive  operation  of  burning  a  bridge. 
The  relation  of  the  two  parties  was  peculiar  and  well 
defined.  Each  party  soon  came  to  recognize  the 
strength  and  weakness  which  belonged  to  its  own  situ- 
ation. With  their  better  engine  it  would  have  been 
comparatively  easy  for  our  pursuers  to  come  near 
enough  to  pick  off  man  after  man  with  their  guns, 
while  entirely  out  of  reach  of  our  revolvers.  But  had 
they  come  up  so  close,  any  obstruction  we  might  have 
placed  on  the  track  would  have  been  terribly  efficient. 
As  long  as  we  possessed  cross-ties  or  anything  large 
enough  to  wreck  a  train  they  were  bound  to  keep  a 
respectful  distance.  The  most  favorable  position  for 
them  was  just  far  enough  in  the  rear  to  see  when  we 
stopped  or  threw  anything  on  the  track,  thus  Cabling 
them  to  check  up  in  time.  They  dared  not  come  nearer 
than  this  while  we  were  in  rapid  motion,  but  they  were 
often  farther  behind. 

Mile  after  mile  the  terrible  chase  continued.  Station 
after  station  was  passed  without  the  least  lessening  of 
speed.  The  idlers  about  the  platforms  started  back  in 
amazement  and  affright  when  they  saw  a  train  dash  by 
like  a  thunderbolt,  closely  followed  by  three  others,  the 
latter  screaming  as  loudly  as  their  whistles  were  able. 
To  us,  who  were  looking  out  from  the  baggage-car, 
houses  and  villages,  groves  and  hills,  flashed  by  almost 
too  quickly  for  distinct  vision.  Then,  in  the  hottest 
speed,  the  whistle  would  sound  "  down  brakes,"  and 
the  stop — usually  made  by  reversing  the  engine — would 
be  so  sudden  that  we  needed  to  cling  convulsively  tc 
avoid  being  hurled  from  our  places ;  then,  in  a  moment, 
we  would  spring  to  the  ground  and  labor  with  the  en- 


108  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

ergy  of  despair  at  destroying  the  telegraph  and  the 
track,  or  loading  on  ties,  until  the  signal, — usually  from 
behind,  given  by  the  pursuing  train, — when  all  would 
rush  on  board,  and  the  engine,  putting  its  full  strength 
into  the  first  leap,  would  dash  on,  jerking  from  their  feet 
all  who  were  not  braced  for  the  shock.  When  under  way 
we  could  not  sit  down  because  of  the  terrible  jolting  of 
the  springless  car.  If  we  attempted  to  stand  we  fell 
over  or  were  thrown  against  the  little  that  remained  of 
the  sides  of  the  car,  and  had  to  be  very  watchful  not  to 
be  thrown  off  altogether.  Our  actual  position  was  a 
rapid  alternation  of  all  possible  attitudes,  the  favorite 
being — judging  from  the  frequency  with  which  it  was 
assumed — that  of  bending  over  with  the  hands  and 
feet  resting  on  the  floor. 

Those  who  were  on  the  engine  had  a  better  oppor- 
tunity of  observing  all  that  was  passing.  Alfred  Wil- 
son, who  acted  as  our  fireman,  gives  a  vivid  picture  of 
the  race  from  that  point  of  view.  He  says, — 

"Our  locomotive  was  under  a  full  head  of  steam.  The  engi- 
neer stoftd  with  his  hand  on  the  lever  with  the  valve  wide  open. 
It  was  frightful  to  see  how  the  powerful  iron  monster  under  us 
would  leap  forward  under  the  revolution  of  her  great  wheels. 
Brown  (the  engineer)  would  scream  to  me  ever  and  anon,  '  Give 
her  more  wood,  All'I'  which  command  was  promptly  obeyed. 
She  rocked  and  reeled  like  a  drunken  man,  while  we  reeled  from 
side  to  side  like  grains  of  pop-corn  in  a  hot  frying-pan.  It  was 
bewildering  to  look  at  the  ground  or  objects  on  the  roadside.  A 
constant  stream  of  fire  ran  from  the  rims  of  the  great  wheels, 
and  to  this  day  I  shudder  when  I  reflect  on  that,  my  first  and 
last  locomotive  ride.  We  sped  past  stations,  houses,  and  fields, 
and  were  out  of  sight  almost  like  a  meteor,  while  the  bystanders, 
who  barely  caught  a  glimpse  of  us  as  we  passed,  looked  on  as  if 
in  both  fear  and  amazement.  It  has  always  been  a  wonder  tc 
me  that  our  locomotive  and  cars  kept  the  track  at  all,  or  how 
they  could  possibly  stay  on  the  track.  At  times  the  iron  horse 
seemed  to  literally  fly  over  the  course,  the  driving-wheels  of  one 
side  being  lifted  from  the  rails  much  of  the  distance  over  which 
we  now  sped  with  a  velocity  fearful  to  contemplate." 

But  swift  running  alone  could  not  save  us.  In  a 
mere  trial  of  speed  between  the  two  engines  we  were 


A    TERRIBLE   RAILROAD    CHASE.  1Q9 

sure  in  the  end  to  be  worsted.  To  wreck  the  pursuing 
train  was  our  great  object,  and  to  that  end  we  employed 
every  expedient  we  could  devise.  By  this  time  we  had 
a  few  more  track-raising  instruments,  which  Andrews 
and  Wilson  had  simultaneously  taken  from  some  switch- 
tenders.  Earlier  in  the  race  they  would  have  been 
worth  their  weight  in  gold,  but  it  was  now  too  late. 
Even  with  their  help  we  could  take  up  a  rail  no  quicker 
than  the  Confederates,  with  ample  supplies  of  rails,  in- 
struments, and  trained  workmen,  could  lay  another 
down.  All  the  efforts  we  made  in  this  direction  were 
a  mere  waste  of  time. 

But  the  swiftness  of  pursuit  was  carrying  both  par- 
ties over  long  spaces.  The  next  station  of  importance 
that  lay  before  us  was  Dalton,  and  this  place,  twenty- 
two  miles  from  Calhoun,  was  soon  reached.  This  was 
the  largest  town  we  had  approached  since  starting  in 
the  morning.  It  was  the  junction  of  another  road 
which  led  to  Cleveland,  on  the  main  line  to  Richmond. 
It  had  a  further  and  terrible  interest  to  us,  in  the 
knowledge  that  there  we  would  learn  whether  our 
character  had  really  been  telegraphed  ahead  of  us  by 
the  way  of  the  coast  lines  and  Richmond.  But  if  it 
had,  we  would  learn  it  too  late  to  make  the  knowledge 
of  any  service.  We  would  find  a  military  force  ready 
to  receive  us  at  the  depot,  and  our  race  would  be  run. 
Yet  we  approached  cautiously,  ready,  if  there  were  any 
suspicious  indications,  to  reverse  the  engine  at  once  and 
run  back  towards  the  pursuing  train,  with  the  intention 
of  getting  out  of  the  town  and  trying  to  escape  through 
Hie  fields.  But  we  saw  no  more  than  the  usual  numbei 
of  persons  about  the  depot,  and  Andrews  at  once  leaped 
from  the  engine,  examined  the  switch,  which  was  ad- 
justed to  throw  a  train  on  .the  Cleveland  fork  of  the 
road,  had  it  changed,  and  answered  all  questions  as 
coolly  and  composedly  as  ever.  The  whole  had  to  be 
done  very  promptly,  as  the  appearance  of  our  poor 
battered  train  was  sadly  against  us,  and  we  knew  that 

10 


CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

in  a  town  the  size  of  Daltou  it  would  be  easy  to  find 
force  enough  for  our  arrest.  Besides,  it  was  sure  that 
in  a  few  seconds  Fuller  and  his  tireless  band  would 
appear  on  the  scene.  In  no  period  of  this  eventful 
day  docs  the  courage  and  self-control  of  Andrews  shine 
out  more  brightly  than  in  the  manner  in  which  he  here, 
caused  the  persons  about  the  depot  in  a  moment  to  obey 
his  orders  and  believe  his  story,  even  while  thinking  it 
possible  that  they  might  have  previous  information  of 
his  designs,  and  be  only  waiting  the  arrival  of  assist- 
ance to  destroy  him.  The  pursuing  train  was  heard  as 
expected.  Before  our  foes  came  near  enough  to  reveal 
our  character  everything  was  arranged,  and  taking  the 
left-hand  rond,  that  which  led  directly  to  Chattanooga, 
we  again  darted  forward. 

This  was,  however,  a  decisive  point  in  the  race. 
When  we  thus  passed  Dalton  without  having  destroyed 
our  pursuers,  we  knew  that  all  hope  of  passing  through 
Chattanooga  with  our  engine  must  be  abandoned.  All 
uneasiness  on  account  of  a  possible  telegram  from  Rich 
mond  \vas  at  an  end,  but  there  was  a  nearer  danger, 
which  defined  the  limits  beyond  which  we  could  no 
longer  hope  to  pass.  There  was  a  line  of  telegraph 
along  each  of  the  diverging  railroads.  We  could  de- 
stroy but  one  of  these,  and  it  was  certain  that  as  soon 
as  Fuller  and  his  friends  arrived  at  Dalton  and  told 
their  story,  warning  would  be  sent  ahead  of  us  by  the 
other  road.  This  will  explain  what  some  accounts 
have  left  doubtful, — our  neglect  to  cut  the  wire  imme- 
diately after  leaving  Dalton.  It  made  no  practical  dif- 
ference to  us  whether  the  fatal  message  was  sent  directly 
to  Chattanooga  and  all  intermediate  stations,  or  whether 
it  went  by  the  way  of  Cleveland  and  Chattanooga  and 
then  baclc  to  the  stations  on  our  line.  The  distance  was 
twice  as  great  in  thus  telegraphing  around  two  sides  of 
a  triangle,  but  this  counted  for  nothing  when  lightning 
was  the  messenger.  Our  only  resource  was  in  the  fact 
that  we  were  now  counting  nearly  as  many  miles  as 


A    TERRIBLE   RAILROAD    CHASE.  HI 

minutes,  and  that  we  might  be  far  on  our  way  towards 
Chattanooga,  and  possibly  have  some  bridges  burned, 
before  preparation  could  be  made  for  stopping  us.  As 
a  last  resource,  we  now  fully  expected  to  have  to  take 
to  the  woods  on  foot. 

Fuller  well  knew  the  decisive  advantage  he  would 
have  at  Dalton.  As  he  neared  that  station  he  wrote 
the  following  dispatch  and  gave  it  to  the  young  operator 
he  had  taken  up  at  Calhoun,  with  instructions  to  put  it 
through  to  Chattanooga,  both  ways,  with  the  least  pos- 
sible delay.  It  proves — if  it  were  not  afterwards  writ- 
ten from  memory  and  unconsciously  modified — how 
correctly  he  had  already  estimated  the  character  of  the 
men  he  was  chasing.  This  sagacity  is  scarcely  less 
wonderful  than  the  daring  with  which  he  encountered 
and  overcame  so  many  obstacles. 

FULLER'S  TELEGRAM. 

"To  GENERAL  LEADBETTER,  Commander  at  Chattanooga. 

"  My  train  was  captured  this  A.M.  at  Big  Shanty,  evidently  by 
Federal  soldiers  in  disguise.  They  are  making  rapidly  for  Chat- 
tanooga, possibly  with  the  idea  of  burning  the  railroad  bridges 
in  their  rear.  If  I  do  not  capture  them  in  the  mean  time  see  that 
they  do  not  pass  Chattanooga. 

"  WILLIAM  A.  FULLER.'' 

Two  miles  above  Dalton  we  stopped  and  obstructed 
the  track,  and  once  more  cut  the  telegraph  wire.  The 
latter  was  of  slight  importance,  but  Wilson  and  others 
uiged  it  upon  Andrews,  and  he  did  not  wish  to  dis- 
courage them  by  telling  them  that  it  was  now  useless. 
But  the  removal  of  a  rail  might  have  been  of  more 
value  by  giving  us  time  for  burning  some  of  the  bridges, 
which  are  very  numerous  on  this  part  of  the  road. 
This  stop  was  made  in  plain  sight  of  a  Confederate 
regiment  commanded  by  a  Colonel  Glen.  The  work  to 
be  done,  however,  demanded  too  much  speed  for  us  to 
apprehend  their  interference.  But  before  the  rail  could 
be  more  than  loosened,  the  pursuers,  who  had  halted  at 


112  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

Dalton  for  even  a  shorter  time  than  we  had,  were  upon 
us  again,  and  we  once  more  mounted  our  engine  and 
sped  onward.  The  telegram  was  sent  ahead  by  this 
line  as  well  as  the  other  a  minute  or  two  before  the 
wire  was  severed.  It  created  a  terrible  excitement  in 
Chattanooga,  but  did  us  no  real  damage.  Both  the 
pursuing  trains  were  near  us  when  we  entered  the  great 
tunnel  north  of  Dalton.  Our  supply  of  cross-ties  was 
unfortunately  exhausted,  or  they  might  have  proved 
very  serviceable  in  the  darkness.  In  fearful  proximity 
and  with  unabated  speed  the  tunnel  was  passed.  Mur- 
phy declares  that  he  was  quite  relieved  when  he  saw  by 
the  gleam  of  light  ahead  that  our  engine  was  passing 
on,  for  he  had  quite  made  up  his  mind  that  we  would 
attack  them  or  drive  our  engine  back  upon  them  in  the 
darkness.  But  no  such  plan  had  entered  our  thoughts. 
We  would  far  have  preferred  a  fight  in  open  day. 

We  now  resolved  to  play  what  had  been  reserved  as 
our  last  card.  Running  more  slowly  to  economize  fuel, 
— though  a  high  velocity  was  still  maintained, — we  tried 
to  light  a  fire  in  our  only  remaining  car.  It  was  al- 
ready open  at  both  ends,  and  now  as  much  of  the  sides 
and  top  as  could  possibly  be  obtained  was  also  torn  off 
and  prepared  for  fuel.  The  attempt  to  light  these 
splinters  by  matches  did  not  succeed,  for  the  wind 
caused  by  the  rapid  motion  blew  them  out.  Fire  was 
then  brought  back  from  the  engine,  but  this  seemed  to 
smoulder  rather  than  burn,  for  the  rain,  which  fell  in 
torrents,  blew  through  the  unprotected  car,  and  all  the 
boards  were  soaking  wet.  Never  did  kindling  a  fire 
seem  so  difficult.  When  at  length  it  fairly  caught,  and 
began  to  burn  briskly,  our  dampened  hopes  began  to 
brighten  in  sympathy  with  it.  Might  it  not  be  that 
our  persistent  struggle  against  ill-fortune  was  to  win 
the  victory  even  yet  ?  Just  then  a  long  covered  bridge 
was  approached,  which  it  was  desirable  on  every  ac- 
count to  burn.  All  of  our  party,  whom  the  heat  had 
not  already  driven  forward,  were  ordered  into  the  nearly 


,1     TERRIKLK    RAILROAD    CHASE. 

empty  tender,  and  the  car  was  uncoupled  in  the  middle 
of  the  bridge.  We  did  not  leave  it  hastily,  but  stopped 
near  the  farther  end  of  the  bridge  to  watch  the  result  in 
breathless  anxiety.  We  had  scarcely  halted  when  the 
black  smoke  of  the  nearest  pursuer  was  seen,  and  he 
bore  down  upon  us  at  full  speed.  We  were  very  loth 
to  leave  our  position.  We  could  see  that  the  flame  was 
rising  higher,  but  could  also  see  that  the  enemy's  train 
had  a  large  number  of  men  on  board,  some  of  whom 
had  firearms.  Oh,  what  would  we  not  have  given  for 
a  few  of  the  muskets  we  had  left  in  camp,  to  have  held 
our  position  for  even  a  few  minutes,  or  even  one  min- 
ute !  But  our  situation  was  too  unfavorable  to  allow 
more  than  a  momentary  thought  of  resistance.  At  long 
range  we  were  virtually  unarmed.  But  we  lingered 
still,  until  we  saw  the  enemy  pushing  our  blazing  car 
before  them  over  the  bridge ;  then,  being  in  reach  of 
their  firearms,  and  but  poorly  protected  in  our  engine 
and  tender,  we  again  sought  safety  in  flight.  They 
pushed  the  blazing  car  before  them  to  the  first  side 
track,  which  happened  not  to  be  far  away,  and  then 
left  it  to  burn  at  its  leisure.  Thus  our  forlorn  hope 
expired. 

But  not  all  of  the  adventurers  were  willing  to  accept 
defeat  even  yet.  A  halt  was  made — the  last — for  the 
sake  of  again  obstructing  the  track,  and  getting  a  few 
slicks  of  wood  that  lay  near  the  track  to  replenish  the 
waning  fire  of  our  engine.  Some  of  the  number,  from 
the  force  of  habit  more  than  anything  else,  began  to 
take  up  a  rail.  The  writer  then  suggested  to  Andrews 
a  simple  plan,  which,  at  this  late  hour,  still  offered  a 
glimmering  hope.  Could  we  throw  the  pursuers  off 
the  track,  we  might  burn  a  few  bridges  yet,  though  the 
most  important  had  been  left  behind  us,  and  we  could 
no  longer  hope  to  run  our  engine  through  Chatta- 
nooga. This  attempt  would  have  been  more  full  of 
peril  than  any  other  of  the  day,  with  the  possible  ex- 
ception of  the  first  seizure  of  the  train ;  but  its  success 
k  10* 


114  CAPTURING   A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

would  have  turned  the  tables  on  our  enemies  over- 
whelmingly. With  sufficient  promptness  and  despera- 
tion it  might  have  succeeded,  while  its  failure  would 
only  have  ended  a  hopeless  struggle,  exchanging  certain 
and  immediate  death  for  whatever  faint  chances  of  escape 
might  otherwise  remain  after  the  train  was  abandoned. 
There  had  been  many  hints  on  the  part  of  the  soldiers 
that  we  were  running  away  from  the  enemy  too  many 
times,  and  that  it  would  be  better  to  fight,  but  this  was 
the  first  definite  proposal.  The  suggestion  was  to  use 
our  remaining  fuel  in  once  more  running  out  of  sight 
of  the  enemy,  then,  selecting  a  place  for  ambuscade  in 
the  low,  thick-set  bushes  that  frequently  came  close  to 
the  road,  to  obstruct  the  track  in  our  usual  manner. 
When  this  was  done,  all  of  us,  except  one  of  the  en- 
gineers, could  hide,  in  such  a  position  as  to  be  abreast 
of  the  enemy  when  he  stopped  to  remove  the  obstruc- 
tions. Our  own  engineer  could  wait  until  the  pursuers 
were  in  sight,  and  then  start  off  as  usual,  but  slowly, 
so  as  to  keep  their  attention  fixed  upon  his  train.  We 
had  several  times  noticed  how,  in  the  case  of  an  ob- 
struction, the  Confederates  had  checked  their  headlong 
career,  sprang  to  the  ground  even  before  the  train  had 
stopped  fully,  and  worked  furiously  at  clearing  the 
track.  This  would  be  our  opportunity  for  rushing 
forth.  We  could  shoot  down  all  who  were  on  the 
engine  or  the  ground,  while  one  of  our  reserve  en- 
gineers sprang  on  the  engine  and  threw  it  back  at  full 
speed,  jumping  off  as  it  started.  The  result  could 
scarcely  have  failed  to  be  a  fatal  collision  with  the 
next  pursuing  train,  which  was  never  far  behind. 
Then  we  would  have  been  free  from  pursuit,  and  left 
only  to  reckon  with  the  forces  ahead.  The  place  and 
manner  of  leaving  the  train  could  then  have  been 
selected  at  our  leisure.  We  afterwards  learned  that 
no  preparation  had  been  made  to  receive  us  farther 
south  than  Boyce's  Station,  some  three  miles  from 
Chattanooga.  There  a  strong  military  force  had  been 


A    TERRIBLE   RAILROAD    CHASE.  H5 

posted,  the  track  torn  up,  and  cannon  planted.  But 
we  would  never  have  ventured  so  near  Chattanooga 
after  knowing  that  a  message  had  been  sent  ahead  of 
us  at  Dal  ton.  Our  original  hope  had  been  to  get  so 
far  ahead  of  all  pursuit  as  to  pass  Chattanooga  before 
the  pursuers  had  reached  Dal  ton.  Then  the  junction 
of  roads  at  the  latter  point  would  not  have  been  an 
embarrassment  to  us,  as  will  be  made  clear  by  a  refer- 
ence to  the  map. 

Andrews  said  that  the  plan,  of  which  a  hint  was 
given  in  a  few  rapid  words,  was  good  and  worth  trying. 
But  the  one  great  defect  in  his  character  as  a  leader 
came  to  the  surface  in  this  emergency.  This  was  a  dis- 
position to  turn  everything  carefully  over  in  his  mind 
before  deciding.  There  was  no  time  for  reflection  now. 
The  Confederate  whistle  sounded,  and  our  men,  with- 
out waiting  for  the  word  of  command,  so  accustomed 
had  they  become  to  this  mano3uvre,  mounted  the  en- 
gine and  sped  away.  Andrews  bitterly  regretted  after- 
wards that  this  last  expedient  was  not  tried.  With  this 
exception,  I  do  not  know  of  anything  more  that  could 
have  been  devised,  beyond  what  we  actually  attempted. 

One  object  only  could  now  be  attained  by  clinging 
longer  to  the  train,  the  speedy  abandonment  of  which 
was  inevitable.  Andrews  wished  to  shorten  the  dis- 
tance to  our  own  lines  as  much  as  possible,  so  that  the 
slender  chance  of  escaping  through  the  woods  and 
mountains  might  be  increased.  It  was  far  easier  to 
travel  on  the  engine  than  to  run  or  skulk  through  the 
country  on  foot.  It  was  better  to  continue  this  mode 
of  locomotion  as  long  as  possible,  or  until  we  were 
carried  as  near  Chattanooga  as  it  was  prudent  to  ven- 
ture. The  old  lightning  rate  of  running  could  not  be 
maintained,  but  we  were  still  moving  swiftly.  The 
engine  was  in  a  bad  state,  aud  really  incapable  of  much 
further  service.  The  fuel,  too,  was  gone.  For  some 
time  we  had  been  reduced  to  the  fragments  that  had 
been  torn  off  the  cars  before  they  were  dropped,  and  to 


CAPTURING   A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

what  we  had  gathered  up  along  the  roadside.  Now  all 
that  remained  of  a  combustible  character  was  crowded 
into  the  fire-box  for  the  last  pull.  Andrews  had 
always  kept-  with  him  from  the  time  we  first  met  him 
at  the  midnight  consultation  a  mysterious  and  well- 
filled  pair  of  saddle-bags.  These,  of  which  he  had  been 
very  careful,  and  which  were  supposed  to  contain  im- 
portant and  compromising  documents,  were  now  added 
to  the  fire.  It  was  a  signal,  if  any  were  needed,  that 
the  time  had  now  come  to  prepare  for  the  worst.  An- 
drews and  three  others — Brown,  Knight,  and  Alfred 
Wilson — were  now  on  the  engine,  and  the  remaining 
sixteen  were  huddled  together  on  the  tender.  At  no 
time  since  the  writer  had  proposed  attacking  the  pur- 
suing train  had  he  been  in  a  position  to  urge  the  at- 
tempt on  Andrews,  and  it  was  now  too  late.  But  an- 
other decision  was  arrived  at  on  the  engine  against 
which  some  of  us  on  the  tender  would  have  protested 
with  all  our  energy  had  the  opportunity  been  offered. 
Alfred  Wilson,  whose  opinion  was  directly  opposite  to 
that  of  George  D.  Wilson  and  the  writer,  says, — 

"  A  few  minutes  before  we  came  to  the  final  halt,  Andrews, 
Brown,  Knight,  and  myself  hastily  discussed  as  to  the  best  thing 
to  be  done,  and  it  was  concluded  that  the  best  course  was  to  sep- 
arate and  scatter  in  all  directions." 

This  fatal  decision  arose  from  two  causes.  Andrews, 
with  all  his  courage,  never  rightly  valued  fighting  men. 
He  preferred  accomplishing  his  objects  by  stratagem 
and  in  secrecy  rather  than  by  open  force.  It  was  simply 
wonderful  that  in  all  the  exigencies  of  this  expedition 
no  one  of  his  soldiers  had  been  permitted  to  fire  a  single 
shot,  or  even  to  draw  a  revolver  upon  the  enemy.  He 
now  considered  that  when  scattered  each  one,  as  well  as 
himself,  would  be  able  to  find  concealment,  or  if  cap- 
tured, to  evade  detection  by  false  stories.  This  was  a 
great  mistake.  The  second  reason  for  adopting  this 
Fatal  course  was  the  belief  that  the  scattering  of  thf 


A    TERRIBLE    RAILROAD    CHASE.  H7 

party  would  also  scatter  pursuit,  and  make  it  less  eager 
in  any  one  direction.  Under  ordinary  circumstances 
such  would  have  been  the  result.  But  the  terror  and 
the  fierce  resentment  aroused  by  the  daring  character 
of  our  enterprise  caused  the  whole  country  to  burst 
into  a  blaze  of  excitement,  and  the  pursuit  to  be 
pushed  with  equal  energy  for  scores  of  miles  in  every 
direction. 

An  opposite  course  would  have  been  far  more  hope- 
ful. AVe  were  but  twelve  or  fifteen  miles  from  Chat- 
tanooga. Twenty  miles  of  travel  to  the  northwest 
would  have  placed  us  on  the  opposite  bank  of  the  Ten- 
nessee River,  among  the  loyal  mountaineers  of  the  dis- 
trict. If  we  had  remained  together  we  could  have 
traversed  that  broken  and  wooded  country  which  lay 
before  us  as  rapidly  as  any  pursuing  soldiers.  No 
body  of  citizens  not  perfectly  organized  and  armed 
would  have  ventured  to  halt  us.  Cavalry  pursuit  away 
from  the  main  roads  was  impossible.  Besides,  one  of 
our  party  possessed  a  pocket-compass,  and  two  others, 
besides  Andrews,  were  somewhat  acquainted  with  the 
country .  The  writer  is  convinced  that  we  might  have 
left  the  cars  in  a  body,  and  without  even  attempting 
concealment,  but  only  avoiding  the  public  roads,  have 
hurried  directly  towards  Mitchel's  lines,  and  within 
forty-eight  hours  have  been  safe  in  his  camp. 

But  we  can  neither  wonder  at  nor  blame  the  mistake 
made  by  our  leader  on  this  occasion,  though  it  led  to 
months  of  wretchedness  and  the  death  of  many  of  the 
party.  Andrews  had  met  each  new  emergency  witn 
heroic  calmness  and  unfailing  resources;  but  he  wa.-* 
now  physically  exhausted.  He  had  been  engaged  in 
(he  most  intense  and  harassing  labor  for  many  days, 
being  without  sleep  for  the  past  thirty  hours  and  with- 
out food  for  twenty.  An  error  in  action  was  therefore 
most  natural  and  excusable,  even  if  it  disagreed  with 
the  course  which  had  been  marked  out  in  calmer  mo- 
ments. Wilson  says, — 


Hg  CAPTURING    A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

"  Andrews  now  told  us  all  that  it  was  '  every  man  for  him- 
self;'  that  we  must  scatter  and  do  the  best  we  could  to  escape  to 
the  Federal  lines." 

This,  then,  was  the  formal  dissolution  of  the  expe- 
dition by  the  order  of  its  leader.  When  we  were 
brought  together  again  under  widely  diifercnt  circum- 
stances, we  were  simply  a  collection  of  soldiers,  and 
while  we  respected  the  judgment  and  advice  of  An- 
drews, we  no  longer  considered  that  we  owed  him  mil- 
itary obedience. 

As  Conductor  Fuller  now  disappears  from  our  story, 
where  he  has  been  so  conspicuous,  and  where  his  en- 
ergy, skill,  and  daring  shine  in  such  brilliant  colors,  a 
few  words  may  be  appropriately  devoted  to  his  work 
and  subsequent  history.  All  the  evidence  goes  to  show 
that  the  Confederacy  had  no  other  available  man  who 
could  have  saved  the  bridges  on  the  Western  and  At- 
lantic Railroad  that  day.  With  the  exception  of  him- 
self and  his  two  companions,  who  were  in  a  sense  sub- 
ordinate to  him,  though  their  services  were  of  very 
high  value,  no  other  person  seemed  capable  of  planning 
or  doing  anything  whatever.  With  a  conductor  of  less 
energy  in  the  place  of  this  man,  the  probabilities  are 
that  we  would  have  had  the  whole  day  uninterruptedly 
for  the  accomplishment  of  our  task.  But  for  Fuller's 
daring  and  perseverance  the  extra  trains  would  have 
but  added  to  the  number  of  wrecks  along  the  line  as 
one  after  another  ran  upon  the  places  where  the  track 
had  been  torn  up ;  while  the  burning  of  the  bridges 
and  the  loss  of  telegraphic  communications  would  have 
diffused  a  universal  panic. 

The  Legislature  of  Georgia  gave  Fuller  a  vo'/e  of 
thanks  for  his  brilliant  services,  and  instructed  the  gov- 
ernor to  bestow  upon  him  a  gold  medal ;  but,  as  he 
laughingly  said  years  after,  "  Gold  was  so  scarce  in  the 
South  that  it  was  hard  to  find  enough  for  a  medal.  It 
was  therefore  postponed  for  a  time,  and  then  came  the 
collapse  of  the  Confederacy,  and  I  got  nothing.1' 


A    TERRIBLE  RAILROAD    CHASE.  H9 

The  Confederate  authorities  gave  him  the  rank  of  cap- 
tain by  brevet.  Of  course,  the  Federal  government 
could  not  recognize  services  rendered  against  itself  of 
however  striking  character.  No  one  of  the  adventur- 
ers ever  expressed  any  malice  towards  Conductor  Fuller, 
believing  that  he  simply  did  what  he  regarded  as  his 
duty.  He  retained  his  place  as  conductor  until  the 
whole  road  passed  under  the  control  of  General  Sher- 
man, when  he  enlisted  in  the  army.  After  seeing  con- 
siderable military  service,  he  was  directed  by  the  Con- 
federate government  to  take  charge  of  the  rolling-stock 
of  the  Western  and  Atlantic  Railroad,  and  keep  it  out 
of  the  hands  of  the  Federals.  He  removed  it  to 
various  parts  of  Georgia  and  South  Carolina  as  the 
exigencies  of  the  war  and  the  narrowing  territory  of 
the  Confederacy  required.  Finally,  when  the  suprem- 
acy of  the  Union  was  restored,  he  brought  it  back  to 
Atlanta  and  surrendered  it  to  Federal  authority.  He 
afterwards  resumed  his  place  as  conductor  on  the  same 
road,  and  remained  in  that  situation  until  1875,  when 
he  located  as  a  merchant  in  Atlanta.  Here  for  many 
years  he  delighted  in  talking  over  this  day  of  wild 
adventure. 

Of  his  two  companions,  Cain  continued  for  more 
than  twenty  years  as  an  engineer  on  the  same  road, 
while  Murphy  built  up  a  prosperous  business  as  a 
lumberman  in  Atlanta. 


120  CAPTURING    A    LOCOMOTIVE 


CHAPTER   VII. 

A    NIGHT   IN   THE    WOODS. 

MANY  persons,  on  hearing  an  account  of  this  unpar- 
alleled chase,  have  suggested  one  expedient  by  which 
they  imagine  the  fugitive  Federals  might  have  de- 
stroyed their  enemy  and  accomplished  their  own  pur- 
pose. "  Why  did  you  not,"  they  say,  "  reverse  your 
own  engine  and  then  jump  from  it,  thus  allowing  it  to 
knock  the  pursuing  train  from  the  track?"  There 
were  good  reasons  against  that  course.  Such  critics 
might  as  well  ask  a  man  who  has  ascended  half-way 
up  out  of  a  well  in  a  bucket  why  he  docs  not  cut  the 
rope  over  his  head  for  the  sake  of  crushing  somebody 
at  the  bottom  of  the  well.  That  engine  was  the  basis 
of  all  our  hopes,  and  we  could  not  think  of  abandoning 
it  until  the  direst  extremity.  At  the  last  moment, 
however,  this  attempt  to  reverse  the  engine  for  the 
purpose  of  securing  a  collision  was  made.  This  final 
effort  was  unavailing.  The  steam  power  was  so  nearly 
exhausted  that  the  locomotive  moved  backward  very 
slowly,  and  accomplished  nothing  beyond  delaying  the 
pursuit  on  foot  for  a  very  few  moments.  The  pursuing 
train  had  no  difficulty  in  also  reversing  and  running 
back  a  little  way  until  the  captured  engine  came  to  a 
dead  standstill.  Indeed,  the  hard  service  of  the  engine 
had  very  nearly  destroyed  it,  even  before  we  thus  flung 
it  back  at  the  enemy.  A  Confederate  account  says, 
"Their  rapid  running  and  inattention  to  their  engine 
had  melted  all  the  brass  from  their  journals."  Wilson 
is  still  more  graphic, — 

"  1  could  liken  her  condition  to  nothing  else  than  the  last 
Urugglei  of  a  faithful  horse,  whoso  heartless  master  has  driven 


A    NIGHT  IN   THE    WOODS.  121 

and  lashed  him  until  he  is  gasping  for  breath,  and  literally  dying 
in  the  harness.  The  powerful  machine  had  carried  us  safely  for 
more  than  a  hundred  miles,  some  of  the  time  at  a  rate  of  speed 
appalling  to  contemplate,  but  she  was  becoming  helpless  and  use- 
less in  our  service.  She  was  shaken  loose  in  every  joint,  at  least 
she  seemed  so ;  the  brass  on  her  journals  and  boxes  was  melted 
by  the  heat ;  her  great  steel  tires  were  almost  red-hot,  while  she 
smoked  and  sizzled  at  every  joint.  Our  race  was  almost  run." 

We  arc  not  able  to  give  an  account  of  the  time  occu- 
pied by  us  in  the  different  parts  of  this  long  and  fearful 
race.  The  general  impression  of  a  frightful  rate  of  speed 
is,  however,  fully  borne  out  by  one  fact,  which  rests  on 
the  authority  of  the  engineer  of  the  "  Texas,"  and  I  am 
not  sure  that  this  simple  statement  is  not  more  elo- 
quent than  the  most  vivid  word-pictures  of  our  chase. 
It  is  simply  that  he  ran  the  distance  of  fifty  and  one- 
half  miles,  made  all  the  stops  at  stations  for  explana- 
tions and  reinforcements,  as  well  as  to  remove  obstruc- 
tions and  to  switch  off  the  cars  we  dropped,  in  the 
space  of  sixty-five  minutes.  This  calm  and  definite 
statement,  which  I  have  never  heard  disputed,  implies 
an  average  velocity,  when  in  motion,  of  not  less  than  a 
mile  per  minute  !  That  such  a  speed  could  be  attained 
upon  a  crooked  road,  laid  with  old  iron  rails,  and  with 
the  utmost  efforts  of  an  enemy  in  front  to  obstruct  the 
track,  seems  little  less  than  miraculous. 

But  to  return  to  the  direct  story.  When  the  final 
and  fatal  command  to  disperse  was  given,  the  soldiers, 
still  obedient  to  orders,  jumped  off,  one  by  one,  and 
ran,  either  singly  or  in  small  groups;  towards  the  shel- 
ter of  the  woods.  The  greater  number  fled  in  a  western 
direction. 

No  time  was  lost  by  the  enemy  in  organizing  a  most 
vigorous  pursuit.  This  would  have  had  little  terrors 
if  conducted  only  by  the  men  on  the  pursuing  trains. 
Some  of  these  did  join  in  it,  but  their  part  was  insig- 
nificant. In  an  incredibly  short  space  of  time  the 
whole  country  was  aroused.  The  telegraph,  no  longer 
disabled,  flashed  alarm  in  every  direction.  Horsemen 
»  11 


122  CAPTURING   A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

scoured  at  full  speed  along  every  highway,  shouting 
their  exaggerated  stories  to  every  passing  traveller  and 
to  every  house  and  village.  The  whole  population  for 
scores  of  miles  on  every  side  of  Chattanooga  seemed  to 
have  abandoned  every  other  occupation,  and  devoted 
themselves  exclusively  to  the  work  of  hunting  the  fugi- 
tive Union  soldiers-.  Each  ferry  and  cross-road  was 
picketed,  while  armed  bands  explored  the  sides  of  every 
mountain,  and  searched  out  every  valley.  The  people, 
or  at  least  the  great  pail  of  those  who  thus  engaged  in 
this  terrible  man-hunt  in  the  woods,  were  not  novices 
in  the  work,  and  employed  the  most  efficient  agencies. 
The  dark  institution  of  slavery  rendered  the  work  of 
hunting  down  fugitive  men  very  familiar.  One  of  the 
points  in  which  there  is  a  strange  conflict  of  testimony 
between  Northern  and  Southern  witnesses  is  in  relation 
to  the  employment  of  blood-hounds  in  the  pursuit  of 
Union  soldiers,  especially  when  endeavoring  to  escape 
from  prison.  The  writer  wishes  to  be  perfectly  candid 
in  this  story,  and  can  imagine  one  explanation  of  this 
discrepancy.  Possibly  the  cause  of  the  dispute  is  to  be 
found  in  the  use  of  the  word  "blood-hound."  The 
pure-blooded  Spanish  blood-hound,  a  ferocious  and  ter- 
rible beast,  is  comparatively  rare  in  the  Southern  States. 
But  hounds,  which  were  used  for  tracking  men,  and 
some  of  which  were  very  large  and  fierce,  were  very 
common.  To  a  poor  man,  whether  white  or  black,  fly- 
ing for  his  life  through  some  lonely  wood,  who  hears, 
through  the  darkness  of  the  night,  the  baying  of  a  pack 
of  hounds  on  his  track,  and  knows  that  their  fangs  will 
soon  be  fixed  in  his  flesh,  it  is  little  comfort  to  reflect 
that  the  deadly  beasts  are  probably  only  mongrels  and 
not  of  the  pure  Spanish  breed !  Hounds  were  freely 
employed  in  searching  for  the  members  of  our  party, 
und  we  felt  our  blood  chill  with  horror  as  we  listened 
to  their  baying.  Escape  by  concealment  for  any  con- 
siderable length  of  time  was  scarcely  possible.  Rapid 
flight  over  the  roughest  part  of  the  country  was  thf 


A    NIGHT  IN   THE    WOODS.  [23 

only  alternative,  and  this  was  far  from  hopeful.  The 
adventurers  were  so  widely  dispersed  that  no  collective 
narrative  of  their  perilous  wanderings  is  practicable. 
Yet  many  circumstances  were  common  to  all  the  mem- 
bers of  the  party.  The  drenching  rain,  which  contin- 
ued to  fall,  added  greatly  to  our  discomfort,  and  was  at 
once  a  help  and  a  hindrance.  It  rendered  the  tracking 
dogs  much  less  efficient,  and  frequently  threw  them  off 
the  track  altogether,  but  prevented  us  from  travelling 
by  the  sun  and  stars ;  and,  as  we  had  no  other  guide,  the 
flight  of  the  greater  number  became  a  mere  aimless  wan- 
dering through  the  woods, — sometimes  even  in  a  circle. 
The  endurance  of  indescribable  suffering  from  cold, 
hunger,  and  fatigue  was  also  an  experience  common  to 
all  who  eluded  capture  for  any  considerable  period. 
The  expectation  of  a  violent  death  immediately  on 
capture  and.  detection  was  shared  by  all.  The  only 
mode  of  giving  an  adequate  impression  of  this  painful 
but  deeply  interesting  part  of  the  history  will  be  to 
narrate  with  some  detail  the  adventures  of  a  few  of 
those  groups,  which  will  best  serve  as  specimens  of  all. 
I  offer  my  own  experience  first ;  not  that  it  is  more  in- 
teresting than  others, — indeed,  it  is  greatly  surpassed  in 
number  and  variety  of  adventures  by  the  narratives  of 
Dorsey  and  Wilson, — but  because  it  is  easier  to  tell  my 
own  experience, — that  strange  weird  period  of  hunting 
in  the  woods  and  mountains  of  Georgia,  in  which  I 
was  the  game, — a  period  which  stands  out  alone  in 
memory  separated  from  all  former  and  after  life ! 

On  leaving  the  train  the  writer  was  alone,  and  for  a 
moment  his  heart  sank  within  him.  No  one  happened 
to  strike  off  in  the  same  direction,  and,  although  some 
of  the  fugitives  might  have  been  overtaken  or  fallen  in 
with,  yet  the  wish  was  strong  to  accompany  the  same 
band  who  had  been  associated  on  the  southward  journey. 
In  looking  for  these  the  opportunity  of  going  with  any 
of  the  other  adventurers  was  lost.  Indeed,  I  hardly 
to  have  any  other  companions,  as  the  remainder 


124  CAl'TVRIXO   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

were  comparative  strangers,  and  their  trustworthiness 
had  not  yet  been  thoroughly  approved.  At  that  time 
I  knew  nothing  of  the  locality  in  which  I  found  my- 
self,— whether  it  was  fifteen  or  fifty  miles  from  Chatta- 
nooga,— nor  had  I  the  most  indefinite  idea  of  the  char- 
acter of  the  country.  I  only  knew  that  our  army  and 
territory  lay  north  or  northwest;  but  as  the  sun  did 
not  shine,  I  had  no  means  of  determining  the  points  of 
the  compass. 

The  train  was  still  moving  when  I  jumped  off, — fast 
enough  to  make  me  perform  several  inconvenient  gyra- 
tions on  reaching  the  ground.  As  soon  as  I  could 
stand  firmly  I  looked  about  for  a  moment,  and  endeav- 
ored to  grasp  the  situation  and  determine  what  to  do. 
I  had  not  anticipated  that  the  train  would  be  abandoned 
and  we  dispersed  in  the  woods ;  but,  on  the  contrary, 
had  relied  on  being  under  the  orders  of  a  leader  until 
we  should  succeed  or  perish.  Now  I  was  thrown  en- 
tirely on  my  own  resources,  without  even  a  coascious 
reliance  on  the  protection  of  God.  I  cannot  recall  even 
breathing  a  prayer  in  this  trying  moment.  Yet,  in  a 
dim  way,  I  did  feel  that  I  was  not  utterly  forsaken. 
One  glance  round  the  horizon — a  swift  balancing  of 
the  few  elements  of  the  problem  that  were  within  my 
reach — and  then  hurried  flight  was  all  time  permitted. 
Most  of  my  comrades  were  in  advance  of  me.  Three 
of  them  had  taken  the  eastern  side  of  the  railroad,  the 
remainder  the  opposite  side.  In  my  judgment  the  latter 
was  best,  and,  following  their  example,  I  soon  reached 
the  cover  of  stunted  pines  that  grew  near.  Feeling  the 
necessity  of  getting  some  start  before  the  enemy  could 
arrange  for  pursuit,  I  continued  to  run  at  right  angles 
away  from  the  railroad.  A  little  brook  that  ran  par- 
allel to  the  railroad  was  soon  passed,  and  I  pressed  on 
up  the  long,  steep,  and  open  slope  of  a  hill  on  its  oppo- 
site side.  Running  up-hill  was  too  severe  to  be  main- 
tained long,  and  I  was  obliged  to  drop  into  a  walk  in 
plain  view  of  the  enemy.  Each  step  was  fatiguing, 


A    NIGHT  IN   THE    WOODS.  125 

and  my  limbs  seemed  made  of  lead.  This  greatly  aug- 
mented my  fears.  It  was  more  like  trying  to  run 
away  from  danger  in  a  nightmare  than  any  waking 
sensation.  I  saw  three  of  my  comrades  not  far  away 
on  the  left,  and,  urging  my  failing  strength  to  the 
utmost,  tried  to  overtake  them,  but  in  vain.  This  was 
a  great  disappointment,  for  I  dreaded  solitude  above  all 
things,  and  wanted  the  support  of  sympathy.  I  knew 
that  pursuit  would  be  rapid  and  instantaneous,  and 
could  hear  shouts  from  the  pursuing  trains,  which  had 
now  reached  the  spot  and  were  discharging  a  host  of 
enemies.  Every  breeze  that  sighed  through  the  branches 
of  the  naked  forest  sounded  like  the  trampling  of  cav- 
alry. 

The  country  was  rough  and  uneven.  On  the  bottoms 
and  by  the  streams,  as  well  as  on  the  steep  mountains, 
were  a  few  pines ;  but  on  the  slopes  and  tops  of  the 
hills,  which  here  area  low  continuation  of  the  Cumber- 
land range,  the  timber  is  mostly  of  oak  and  other 
varieties,  which  were  not  then  in  foliage.  This  was  a 
great  disadvantage,  because  it  left  no  hiding-place  and 
exposed  us  to  the  watchful  eyes  of  our  enemies. 

As  I  struggled  up  the  hill-side  the  sense  of  faintness 
and  exhaustion  passed  away,  and  with  strength  hope  came 
again.  Nothing  in  this  chase  seems  stranger  than  the 
manner  in  which  my  strength  ebbed  and  flowed.  When 
seemingly  utterly  powerless,  without  rest,  food,  or  sleep, 
vigor  came  back  again  on  more  than  one  occasion,  and 
the  new  supply  would  last  for  hours.  My  more  rapid 
pace  soon  carried  me  over  the  hill-top  and  down  to  the 
bend  of  a  little  river,  which  I  subsequently  learned 
was  the  Chickamauga, — the  witness,  afterwards,  of  one 
of  the  most  desperate  battles  of  the  war.  It  was  then 
swollen  by  the  continuous  rains,  and  for  some  time  1 
searched  along  its  banks  in  vain  for  a  crossing-place. 
Believing  that  death  was  behind,  I  finally  committed 
myself  to  the  turbulent  stream,  and  succeeded  in  getting 
over,  but  only  to  find  that  before  me  the  bank  rose  in 


12(3  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

an  almost  perpendicular  precipice  of  shelving  rock  not 
less  than  one  hundred  feet  in  height.  I  dared  not  re- 
cross  the  stream,  for  I  knew  the  enemy  could  not  be 
far  behind,  and  I  therefore  clambered  up  the  precipice. 
Several  times,  when  near  the  top,  did  I  feel  my  grasp 
giving  way,  but  as  often  some  bush  or  projecting  rock 
afforded  me  the  means  of  saving  myself.  While  thus 
swinging  up  the  bare  rocks,  I  could  not  help  thinking 
what  a  fine  mark  I  presented  if  any  of  the  enemy,  with 
guns,  should  happen  to  arrive  on  the  opposite  bank  ! 
At  last,  after  imminent  danger,  I  reached  the  top,  again 
utterly  exhausted,  pulled  myself  out  of  sight,  and  sank 
down  to  breathe  for  a  while. 

I  had  been  without  breakfast  or  dinner,  and  had 
spent  not  only  that  day  but  many  preceding  ones  in 
the  most  fatiguing  exertion.  Enemies  were  on  every 
side.  There  was  no  guide  even  in  the  direction  of  home, 
for  the  sun  still  lingered  behind  an  impenetrable  veil. 

While  musing  on  this  unenviable  situation  in  which 
I  found  myself,  a  dreadful  sound  brought  me  to  my 
feet  and  sent  the  blood  leaping  wildly  through  my 
veins.  It  was  the  distant  baying  of  a  blood-hound!  A 
moment's  reflection  would  have  made  it  certain  that  in 
the  existing  state  of  Southern  customs  dogs  would  have 
been  used  to  track  fugitives  in  the  woods.  It  was  a 
mere  every-day  incident  of  slavery.  But  this  consider- 
ation brought  no  comfort.  Alone  in  the  woods  of 
Georgia,  the  horror  of  being  hunted  with  dogs  was  in- 
describable. 

A  few  moments'  listening  confirmed  my  worst  fears. 
They  were  after  us  with  their  blood-hounds !  not  one 
pack  alone,  but  all  in  the  country,  as  the  widening 
circle  from  which  their  dismal  baying  echoed  revealed 
but  too  plainly.  There  was  no  longer  safety  in  idle- 
ness. Yet  the  fearful  sound  was  not  without  use  in 
supplying  a  guide  to  flight,  and  I  am  now  convinced 
that  throughout  the  whole  chase  the  dogs  were  of  more 
real  service  to  us  than  to  our  pursuers,  as  they  rendered 


A    NIGHT  IN   THE    WOODS.  12? 

a  surprise  less  probable.  Bat  none  the  less  did  they 
add  to  the  repulsiveness  and  terror  of  our  position. 

Away  across  the  hills  and  streams  I  sped,  I  know 
not  how  far, — I  only  know  that  the  noise  of  the  dogs 
grew  fainter  as  the  evening  wore  on.  I  had  distanced 
them  and  began  to  breathe  more  freely.  I  even  in- 
dulged the  hope  of  being  able  to  work  my  way  ulti- 
mately to  the  Federal  lines.  Had  the  clouds  per- 
mitted travelling  by  the  sun  and  stars,  this  hope  might 
have  been  realized. 

As  I  descended  the  long  slope  of  a  wooded  hill  into 
a  solitary  valley,  I  saw  a  rude  hut,  with  a  man  working 
in  a  cultivated  patch  beside  it.  Believing  that  he  could 
not  yet  have  heard  of  our  adventure,  I  determined  to  risk 
something  in  order  to  get  information.  I  also  felt  sure 
that  one  man  could  not  arrest  me.  Approaching,  I  asked 
the  road  to  Chattanooga,  and  the  distance.  He  pointed 
the  way,  and  told  me  that  it  was  eight  miles.  Adding 
this  information  to  the  general  knowledge  I  had  of  the 
geography  of  that  district,  it  gave  me  some  notion  of  my 
whereabouts.  I  did  not  wish  to  get  any  nearer  the 
rebel  town,  as  I  rightly  judged  that  in  its  vicinity  pur- 
suit would  be  most  vigorous,  but  I  continued  my 
journey  in  that  direction  until  out  of  sight,  when  ] 
climbed  the  hill  at  right  angles  to  my  former  course. 
This  course  was  maintained  for  some  hours,  when  an 
incident  occurred  which  would  have  been  amusing  but 
for  the  fearful  perils  environing  me. 

I  had  often  heard  of  lost  persons  travelling  in  a  circle, 
but  never  gave  much  credit  to  such  stories.  Now,  I 
had  the  proof  of  their  credibility.  I  believe  philoso- 
phers explain  the  phenomenon  by  saying  that  one  side 
of  the  body  has  a  little  more  vigor  than  the  other,  and 
that  when  we  have  no  guide  to  direct  us,  the  stronger 
side  (usually  the  right),  by  its  tendency  to  go  ahead  of 
the  other  side,  gradually  turns  us  in  the  opposite  direc- 
tion. In  other  words,  the  right  foot  outwalks  the  left, 
and  thus,  like  a  carriage-horse  swifter  than  its  mate  in 


I  2s  CAPTURING  A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

a  driverless  team,  can  only  describe  perpetual  circles 
until  the  will-power  again  takes  hold  of  the  reins.  But 
at  this  time  I  had  never  heard  of  such  theories,  and  the 
following  experiences  presented  themselves  to  my  mind 
as  an  inexplicable  and  terrifying  fatality. 

I  had  crossed  a  road  and  left  it  for  something  like  an 
hour,  during  which  time  I  walked  very  fast,  when  to 
my  surprise  I  came  to  the  same  place  again.  I  was 
considerably  annoyed  thus  to  lose  my  labor,  but  struck 
over  the  hill  in  what  I  now  supposed  to  be  the  right 
direction.  Judge  of  my  astonishment  and  alarm  when, 
after  an  hour  or  more  of  hard  walking,  I  found  myself 
again  at  precisely  the  same  spot !  So  much  time  had 
been  lost  that  the  barking  of  the  dogs  now  sounded 
very  loud  and  near.  I  was  perplexed  beyond  meas- 
ure and  seemingly  hopelessly  entangled.  A  few  steps 
brought  me  to  a  stream  that  was  recognized  as  having 
been  crossed  hours  before.  In  sheer  desperation  I 
took  the  first  road  that  ap|>eared,  and  followed  it  almost 
regardless  of  where  it  led  or  who  was  met.  Previously 
I  had  kept  away  from  the  roads,  and  sought  the  most 
secluded  route.  But  the  risk  of  meeting  any  tangible 
enemy  was  preferable  to  being  the  sport  of  that  bewil- 
dering chance  which  seemed  to  be  drifting  me  around 
in  a  remorseless  whirlpool. 

Thus  I  pressed  forward  till  the  rainy,  dreary  even- 
ing deepened  into  night.  I  recall  no  thoughts  of 
prayer,  no  feeling  of  dependence  upon  an  infinite 
mercy  beyond  the  clouds.  All  the  memory  I  have  of 
mental  processes  is  that  there  was  a  fixed,  iron-like  re- 
solve to  use  every  power  of  body  and  mind  to  escajre, 
and  in  perfect  calmness  to  await  the  result.  I  intended 
to  do  all  in  my  own  power  for  safety  and  then  perish, 
if  it  must  be  so,  with  the  feeling  that  I  was  not  re- 
sponsible for  it.  The  reader,  a  little  farther  on,  will 
find  that  this  feeling  was  so  powerful  that  I  did  not 
shrink  from  any  sacrifice  of  truth,  or  even  from  enlist- 
ment in  the  rebel  army.  For  me  the  stake  was  life  or 


A    NIGHT   IN    THE    WOODS.  129 

ileath.  I  would  win  if  my  power  could  by  any  means 
be  stretched  so  far;  if  not,  I  would  pay  the  forfeit 
when  I  must. 

It  was  uot  perfectly  dark,  for  there  was  a  moon  be- 
yond the  clouds,  and,  as  I  heard  a  wagon  approaching, 
I  stepped  to  the  bushes  beside  the  road  and  accosted 
the  driver.  His  voice  assured  me  that  he  was  a  negro, 
and  I  made  bold  to  get  from  him  as  much  information 
as  possible.  Words  cannot  describe  the  flood  of  dis- 
appointment, vexation,  and  auger  that  swept  over  my 
bosom  when  I  found  I  was  within  four  miles  of  Chat- 
tanooga,— that  town  which  I  regarded  as  the  lion's 
mouth !  So  far  as  I  had  a  plan  it  was  to  leave  this 
place  far  to  my  right,  and  strike  the  Tennessee  River 
twelve  or  fifteen  miles  farther  down-stream.  I  hoped 
to  do  this,  and  to  cross  over  the  river  by  floating  on 
some  dry  branch  of  a  tree  before  morning.  If  the  stars 
came  out,  so  that  I  could  travel  a  straight  course,  this 
hope  was  not  unreasonable.  But  near  Chattanooga, 
however,  all  the  river  would  be  watched  and  the  coun- 
try around  strictly  patrolled.  But  if  discouraged  by 
the  manner  in  which  I  seemed  attracted  towards  the 
rebel  headquarters,  despair  was  useless ;  so,  learning  the 
direction  both  of  Riuggold  and  Chattanooga  from  the 
negro,  who,  like  all  of  his  color,  was  ready  to  do  any- 
thing for  fugitives,  with  whom  he  had  a  fellow-feeling 
(though  I  did  not  make  my  true  character  known  to 
him),  I  pressed  forward  through  the  rain  and  mud. 
As  the  road  did  not  lead  in  the  right  direction,  I  again 
travelled  in  the  fields  and  woods. 

For  some  time  I  felt  sure  of  having  the  right  course 
in  my  head  and  hurried  on.  But  when  I  had  crossed 
a  large  field  of  deadened  timber  I  was  completely  lost. 
Soon,  however,  I  reached  a  road  which  seemed  to  lead 
right,  and  followed  it  with  renewed  vigor  for  several 
miles.  At  length  I  met  three  men  on  horseback.  It 
was  too  dark  to  tell  whether  they  were  negroes  or  white 
men,  but  I  ventured  to  ask  them, — 


130  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

"  How  far  is  it  to  Chattanooga  ?" 

"Three  miles!" 

"  Is  this  the  right  road  ?" 

"  Yes,  sah,  right  ahead." 

These,  probably,  were  men  sent  out  to  search  for  the 
.ailroad  adventurers,  and  they  did  not  try  to  arrest  me, 
because  I  had  accosted  them  so  boldly  and  was  going 
directly  towards  Chattanooga. 

But  it  was  evident  I  was  again  on  the  wrong  road. 
Indeed,  so  hopelessly  bewildered  was  I  that  it  seemed 
impossible  to  travel  any  but  the  wrong  road.  As  soon 
as  the  horsemen  were  out  of  sight  I  turned  and  fol- 
lowed them  three  or  four  miles,  until  I  came  to  a  large 
road  running  at  right  angles  with  my  own,  which  ter- 
minated where  it  entered  the  other.  I  deliberated  oome 
time  as  to  which  end  of  this  new  road  I  should  take. 
These  mountain-roads  are  fearfully  crooked,  and  the 
one  I  had  been  travelling  bent  too  often  to  give  me  the 
direction  even  of  the  dreaded  Chattanooga. 

Many  a  time  had  I  wished  for  a  sight  of  the  moon 
and  stars.  Long  before  the  clash  of  arms  had  been 
heard  in  our  peaceful  land,  before  the  thunder  of  battle 
had  filled  a  nation  with  weeping,  astronomy  had  been 
my  favorite  study,  and  I  had  often  longed  foi  the  part- 
ing of  the  clouds,  that,  with  my  telescope,  I  might  gaze 
on  the  wonders  of  the  world  above.  But  never  did  I 
bend  so  anxious  an  eye  to  the  darkened  firmament  as 
in  my  solitary  wanderings  over  the  Georgia  hills  that 
memorable  night.  All  in  vain !  No  North  Star  ap- 
peared to  point  with  beam  of  hope  to  the  land  of  the 
free! 

But  at  length  I  made  choice,  and,  as  usual,  on  this 
night  chose  wrong.  After  I  had  gone  a  long  distance 
the  moon  did  for  a  moment  break  through  a  rift  in  the 
clouds  and  pour  her  welcome  light  down  on  the  dark 
forest  through  which  I  was  passing.  That  one  glance 
was  enough  to  show  me  that  I  was  heading  towards  the 
railroad  I  had  left  in  the  morning.  Even  then  thp 


A    NIOHT  IN    THE    WOODS.  131 

light  was  a  compensation  for  all  the  disappointment,  • 
but  in  a  moment  it  withdrew  and  the  rain  fell  again  in 
torrents.     Wearily  I  turned  and  retraced  my  tedious 
iteps,  hoping  in  vain  for  another  glimpse  of  the  moon. 

One  of  my  feet  had  been  injured  by  an  accident  three 
months  before,  and  now  pained  me  exceedingly.  Still 
I  dragged  myself  along.  My  nerves  had  become  ex- 
hausted by  the  long-continued  tension  they  had  en- 
dured, and  now  played  me  many  fantastic  tricks,  which 
became  more  marked  as  the  night  wore  on.  I  passed 
the  place  where  the  wrong  choice  of  roads  had  been 
made,  and  still  toiled  ahead. 

I  was  thinly  clad,  and  as  the  wind,  which  had  risen 
and  was  now  blowing  quite  hard,  drove  the  falling 
showers  against  me,  my  teeth  chattered  with  the 
piercing  cold.  I  passed  many  houses,  and  feared  the 
barking  of  the  dogs  might  betray  me  to  watchers 
within;  but  my  fears  were  groundless.  The  storm, 
which  was  then  howling  fearfully  through  the  trees, 
served  to  keep  most  of  those  who  would  have  sought 
my  life  within-doors.  For  a  time  I  seemed  to  have 
the  lonely,  fearful,  stormy  night  to  myself. 

At  last  all  thoughts  gave  way  to  the  imperative  need 
of  rest.  I  reeled  to  a  large  log  not  far  from  the  road, 
on  the  edge  of  a  small  patch  of  woodland,  and  crawl- 
ing close  under  the  side  of  it,  not  so  much  for  shelter 
from  the  driving  rain  as  for  concealment  from  my  worse 
dreaded  human  foes,  I  slept  in  peace. 

Up  to  the  time  of  this  profound  and  dreamless  sleep 
the  incidents  of  that  terrible  night  are  graven  on  my 
memory  as  with  a  pen  of  fire.  But  after  waking  I 
found  a  marvellous  change,  and  the  next  experience  of 
the  night  floats  in  memory  with  all  the  voluptuous 
splendor  of  an  opium-dream.  Had  I  been  at  all  dis- 
posed to  superstition,  I  would  have  had  room  enough 
to  indulge  it.  A  rational  view  of  religion  would  have 
enabled  me  to  recognize  the  manner  in  which  a  Mer- 
ciful Father  interposed  to  relieve  my  sufferings, — an 


132  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

interposition  not  less  real  or  effective  because,  as  1 
still  believe,  purely  natural.  But  at  that  time  I  was 
indisposed  to  admit  other  than  the  material  explanation. 
The  want  of  sleep,  fatigue,  dampness,  hunger,  and  in- 
tense mental  tension  were  enough  to  cause  a  mild  species 
of  delirium.  But  the  character  of  this  was  surely  ex- 
traordinary, affecting  as  it  did  the  senses  and  imagina- 
tion only,  and  leaving  the  reason  and  will  altogether 
untouched.  I  was  as  rational — as  able  to  plan,  and  far 
more  able  to  execute,  during  this  singular  psychological 
experience  than  before.  But  let  me  narrate  facts  and 
leave  the  reader  to  his  own  explanations. 

I  cannot  tell  how  long  sleep  continued,  but  I  wakened 
perfectly  in  an  instant,  and  with  a  full  realization  of 
my  position.  But,  in  addition  to  this,  I  seemed  to  hear 
some  person  whisper,  as  plainly  as  ever  I  heard  a  human 
voice, — 

"  Shoot  him  !  shoot  him  !  Let  us  shoot  him  before 
lie  wakes!" 

My  first  impression  was  that  a  party  of  rebels  had 
discovered  me  in  my  hiding-place,  and  that  my  last 
moment  on  earth  had  come.  But  the  next  thought 
brought  a  new  suspicion,  and  I  cautiously  opened  my 
eyes  to  see  if  my  senses  were  really  playing  me  false. 

Directly  before  me  stood  a  bush  or  small  tree.  The 
first  glance  showed  me  a  tree  and  nothing  more.  The 
next  glance  revealed  a  score  of  angels,  all  clad  in  lovely 
robes,  that  melted  into  the  softest  outlines,  their  heads 
nodding  under  feathery  plumes  above  all  beauty,  and 
their  wings,  bordered  with  violet  and  pearl,  slowly 
waving  with  indescribable  grace.  As  my  eye  wan- 
dered farther,  the  whole  grove  was  transformed  into  a 
radiant  paradise,  in  which  moved  celestial  beings  of 
every  order,  all  instinct  with  life  and  blushing  with 
love.  There  were  rose  bowers,  and  ladies  fairer  than 
mortal,  and  little  cherubs  floating  around  on  cloudlets 
of  amber  and  gold.  Indeed,  all  that  I  had  ever  seen. 
read,  or  imagined  of  beauty  was  comprised  in  that  one 


A    NIOIIT  IN   Till-:    WOODS.  133 

gorgeous  vision.  It  was  very  singular,  and  of  this  I 
can  give  no  explanation,  except  the  will  of  God,  that  no 
hideous,  terrible,  or  even  ugly  image  was  seen.  That 
there  were  not  visions  of  blood-hounds,  chains,  and 
scaffolds,  or  other  forms  of  terror,  seemingly  more  ap- 
propriate to  my  condition,  is  unaccountable,  so  far  as  1 
know,  on  any  theory  save  that  of  heavenly  grace,  and. 
personally,  I  wish  for  no  better.  It  was  also  singular 
that  though  the  brain  and  eye  were  thus  impressed  with 
ideal  existences,  I  was  perfectly  calm  and  self-possessed, 
knoNving  the  whole  thing  to  be  but  a  pleasing  illusion. 
I  had  no  fear  of  these  figures  of  the  brain,  but,  on  the 
contrary,  found  them  excellent  company.  They  did 
not  always  personate  the  same  characters.  Occasion- 
ally they  would  change  to  the  old  feudal  knights,  ar- 
rayed in  glittering  armor.  The  finest  landscapes  would 
start  up  from  the  cold  wet  hills  around,  like  mirages  in 
the  desert.  Panoramas  of  the  most  vivid  action  passed 
before  me,  and  the  ear  joined  the  eye  in  the  work  of 
pleasing  illusion,  for  even  language  was  not  denied  to 
my  visitants,  whose  voices  were  inexpressibly  melodi- 
ous, and  even  very  sweet  music  was  occasionally  heard. 

Not  less  remarkable  Avas  the  renewal  of  strength  I 
felt.  To  walk  or  run  was  no  longer  a  burden.  To  say 
that  I  was  perfectly  refreshed  is  altogether  an  inad- 
equate expression.  I  seemed  to  have  supernatural 
strength,  and  to  be  incapable  of  any  weariness  or  dis- 
agreeable sensation  whatever.  Even  the  merciless  pelt- 
ing of  the  cold  rain  was  pleasant  and  delightful !  I 
was  perfectly  easy  and  peaceful  in  mind,  feeling  no  fear, 
though  perfectly  conscious  of  my  real  situation  and  peril, 
and  retaining  the  full  force  of  the  resolve  to  use  every 
exertion  for  escape. 

While  night  and  darkness  were  thus  changed  into 
visions  of  beauty  and  joy  around  me,  another  faculty 
penetrated  beyond  these  highly-colored  illusions,  and 
showed  me,  though  in  faint  lines,  the  true  face  of  the 
country  and  of  events.  Yet  I  had  no  hesitation  in 

12 


134  CAPTURING  A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

controlling  my  conduct  with  respect  to  the  faint  rather 
than  the  bright  pictures,  and  was  only  once,  for  a  few 
minutes,  deceived,  and  then  by  supposing  the  real  to  be 
fictitious.  The  error  very  nearly  involved  me  in  a 
serious  difficulty.  At  a  cross-road,  I  saw  from  a  dis- 
tance what  I  supposed,  at  first,  to  be  a  group  of  my 
spectral  friends  standing  around  a  fire,  the  ruddy  blaze 
of  which  rendered  them  clearly  visible.  They  were 
not  so  beautiful  as  former  figures,  but  I  advanced  un- 
suspectingly towards  them,  and  would  probably  have 
continued  until  too  late  for  retreat  had  not  my  progress 
been  arrested  by  a  sound  of  all  others  least  romantic, — 
the  squealing  of  a  pig !  The  men  around  the  fire  had 
caught  the  animal,  and  were  killing  it  preparatory  to 
roasting  it  in  the  fire !  This  immediately  drove  away 
the  seraphs  and  the  angels !  I  listened,  and  became 
convinced  that  they  were  a  picket  sent  out  to  watch  for 
just  such  travellers  as  myself.  Some  dogs  were  with 
them,  but  these  were,  fortunately,  too  much  absorbed 
in  the  dying  agonies  of  the  pig  to  give  attention  to  me. 

I  crawled  cautiously  away,  and  made  a  long  circuit 
through  the  fields.  A  dog  from  a  farm-house  made 
himself  exceedingly  annoying  by  following  and  bark- 
ing after  me.  I  did  not  apprehend  danger  from  him, 
for  I  had  managed  to  keep  my  trusty  revolver  dry  all 
this  time,  but  I  feared  he  would  attract  the  attention  of 
the  picket. 

When  he  left  me  I  returned  to  the  road,  but  came 
to  three  horses  hobbled  down,  which,  no  doubt,  belonged 
to  the  picket  behind,  and  had  to  make  another  circuil 
to  avoid  driving  them  before  me.  Then  I  pressed  on 
hoping  that  some  good  chance,  if  not  providence,  might 
bring  me  to  the  steep  banks  of  the  Tennessee.  Yet  J 
was  not  sanguine,  for  the  country  was  more  open  and 
level  than  I  expected  to  find  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
river.  Very  many  miles — possibly  a  score,  or  even 
more,  for  my  pace  was  rapid — were  passed  in  this 
manner,  but  at  last  my  visions  began  to  fade.  I  wa.<= 


A    NIQHT  IN   THE    WOODS.  135 

,-orry  to  see  them  go,  for  they  seemed  like  a  good  omen, 
and  they  had  been  cheerful  companions.  When  the 
last  form  of  beauty  disappeared  the  chill  horror  of  my 
situation  froze  into  my  veins;  my  strange  strength  also 
passed  gradually  away.  I  would  find  myself  stagger- 
ing along  almost  asleep, — would  wander  a  short  distance 
fiom  the  road  to  a  secluded  spot,  throw  myself  on  the 
flooded  ground,  and  be  instantly  asleep, — then,  in  a  few 
moments,  awaken,  almost  drowned  by  the  pitiless  rain, 
and  so  weary,  cold,  and  benumbed  that  I  could  scarcely 
rise  and  plod  onward. 

Thus  the  latter  part  of  that  dreary  night  wore  on. 
It  seemed  an  age  of  horror,  and  places  a  shuddering 
gulf  between  my  present  life  and  the  past.  At  length 
the  cold  gray  dawn  of  a  clouded  morning  broke  through 
the  weeping  sky.  Day  brought  no  relief.  I  had  not 
yet  any  guide,  and  had  not  stumbled  on  the  Tennessee. 
I  feared  to  make  inquiries.  Every  one  I  saw  seemed 
a  foe.  Still,  I  did  not  avoid  them,  or  leave  the  road 
for  any  great  distance.  Slowly  a  new  plan  formed 
itself  in  my  mind,  for,  if  the  rain  and  clouds  continued, 
I  despaired  of  working  my  way  to  our  lines.  What 
this  plan  was  will  appear  in  due  time.  It  will  be 
enough  to  say  here  that  I  did  not  now  think  a  capture 
would  be  fatal,  if  once  far  enough  away  from  the  place 
where  the  train  was  abandoned,  to  plausibly  deny  all 
knowledge  of  that  raid.  I  hardly  thought  it  possible 
that  I  could  endure  another  day  and  night  alone  in 
the  woods.  To  prepare  for  all  emergencies,  I  carefully 
washed  all  traces  of  that  terrible  night  from  my  clothes. 
The  wet  would  not  matter,  for  the  falling  rain  accounted 
perfectly  for  that. 

It  was  Sabbath  morning,  but  it  came  not  to  me  with 
the  blessed  calmness  and  peace  that  accompany  it  in  my 
own  far-off  Ohio.  I  realized  how  sweet  those  Sabbath 
hours  and  Sabbath  privileges  had  been,  which  I  had 
never  valued  before.  I  saw  the  people  going  to  church, 
and  longed  to  go  with  them.  Of  course  this  was  impossi- 


136  CAPTURING    A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

ble,  but  with  the  thought  came  more  of  a  feeling  of 
worship  and  of  desire  for  God's  protection  than  I  had 
ever  known  before.  In  that  hour  I  believe  II is  blessed 
Spirit  was  calling  me;  but  I  soon  turned  my  mind  in 
another  direction,  preferring  to  plan  for  my  own  de- 
liverance, and  to  arrange  the  stories  I  would  tell  if  ar- 
rested, or  if  I  ventured  to  any  house  for  food,  as  would 
soon  be  necessary. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 
IN  THE  ENEMY'S  POWER. 

BUT  I  will  dwell  no  longer  on  the  miseries  of  this 
dreary  morning.  Its  hours  went  tediously  by,  marked 
by  no  special  incidents  till  about  noon.  Just  beyond 
"Lafayette,  Georgia,  I  was  observed  by  some  one  on  the 
watch  for  strangers.  A  party  of  pursuit  numbering 
twenty  or  thirty  was  at  once  organized.  I  knew  noth- 
ing of  my  danger  till  they  were  within  fifty  yards, 
when  I  heard  them  calling  for  me  to  stop. 

A  single  glance  showed  my  helplessness.  I  laid  my 
hand  instinctively  on  my  revolver,  but  knew  that  fight 
was  useless.  Neither  was  flight  possible.  The  country 
was  open  and  I  was  too  weary  to  run,  even  if  some  of 
the  party  had  not  been  mounted  and  others  armed  with 
rifles  and  shot-guns.  It  was  time  to  see  what  could  be 
made  of  my  plans  carefully  contrived  for  just  such  an 
emergency.  Therefore,  making  a  virtue  of  necessity,  I 
turned  round  and  demanded  what  they  wanted,  though 
I  knew  only  too  well.  They  said  courteously  enough 
that  they  wanted  to  talk  with  me  awhile.  Soon  they 
came  up,  and  a  brisk  little  man  who  had  the  epaulets 
of  a  lieutenant,  but  whom  they  called  "  Major,"  began 
to  ask  questions.  He  was  very  bland,  and  apologized 


IN  Tin:  ENJ!  Airs  rowER.  137 

profusely  for  interrupting  me,  but  said  if  I  was  a  patri- 
otic man  (as  he  had  no  doubt  I  was)  I  would  willingly 
undergo  a  slight  inconvenience  for  the  good  of  the 
Confederacy.  I  endeavored  to  emulate  his  politeness, 
begging  him  to  proceed,  in  the  performance  of  his  duty, 
and  assuring  him  th.r',t  he  would  find  nothing  wrong. 
He  searched  me  very  closely  for  papers,  and  examined 
my  money  and  pistoi,  but  found  no  ground  for  sus- 
picion. 

He  next  asked  me  who  I  was,  where  I  came  from, 
and  where  I  was  prang.  I  expected  all  these  questions 
in  about  that  order,  and  answered  them  categorically. 
I  told  him  I  v/as  a  citizen  of  Kentucky,  of  Fleming 
County,  who  h?,d  become  disgusted  with  the  tyranny 
of  the  Lincoln  government,  and  was  ready  to  fight 
against  it ;  thy,t  I  came  to  Chattanooga,  but  would  not 
enlist  there  because  most  of  the  troops  were  conscripts, 
and  the  few  volunteers  very  poorly  armed.  I  told  him 
where  I  had  lodged  In  Chattanooga,  and  many  things 
about  the  troops  there,  using  all  the  knowledge  I  had 
acquired  of  that  chnracter  while  riding  on  the  cars  to 
Marietta  the  preceding  Friday.  I  had  also  heard  many 
words  of  praise  spoken  of  the  First  Georgia  Regiment, 
and  now  told  the  major  that  I  wished  to  join,  that 
noble  organization.  This  flattered  his  State  pride,  but 
he  asked  me  one  question  more, — why  I  had  not  gone 
directly  to  Coriulh,  where  the  First  Georgia  was,  with- 
out coming  to  Iwfayette,  which  was  far  out  of  the  way. 
The  question  conveyed  much  information,  as  I  did  not 
before  know  that  I  was  near  Lafayette,  or  out  of  the 
road  from  Cb  Mtanooga  to  Corinth.  I  ans\vered  as  well 
as  I  could  bv  alleging  that  General  Mitchel  was  said  to 
be  at  Hunts  ville,  and  that  I  was  making  a  circuit  around 
to  avoid  the  danger  of  falling  into  his  hands. 

This  seamed  to  be  perfectly  satisfactory  to  the  little 
man,  aiirl,  turning  to  the  attentive  crowd,  he  said, — 

"  "We  may  as  well  let  this  fellow  go  on,  for  he  seem* 
to  lx,  r,'.'.  right." 

12* 


138  CAPTURING    A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

I  was  greatly  rejoiced  at  these  words,  and  cast  about 
in  ray  own  mind  to  see  if  I  could  not  gain  something 
more  before  passing  on  the  way.  But  my  joy  was 
premature.  A  dark-complexioned  man  on  horseback, 
with  his  hat  drawn  over  his  brows,  looked  slowly  up 
and  drawled  out, — 

"  Well,  y-e-s!  Perhaps  we'd  as  well  take  him  back 
,o  town,  and  if  it's  all  right,  maybe  we  can  help  him 
on  to  Corinth." 

This  was  rather  more  help  than  I  wanted,  but  there 
was  no  help  for  it.  Besides,  I  reasoned  that  if  I  could 
keep  on  good  term?  with  this  party,  I  could  get  infor- 
mation and  aid  that  would  be  invaluable  towards  my 
final  escape.  Nothing  could  really  suit  me  much  better 
than  actually  to  be  forwarded  to  Corinth  and  enlisted 
in  the  First  Georgia.  I  knew  the  ordeal  of  question- 
ing before  that  course  was  determined  on  would  be  very 
trying,  but  did  not  despair.  If  I  could  only  have  had 
some  food  and  a  few  hours'  rest ! 

They  conducted  me  to  the  largest  hotel  of  the  place, 
where  I  was  received  with  much  ceremony,  but  they 
neglected  to  order  dinner.  I  could  have  hud  drink 
enough,  but  was  too  prudent  to  touch  it,  even  if  I  had 
not  .always  been  a  teetotaler.  Soon  all  the  lawyers 
came  in, — Lafayette  is  a  county-seat, — and  they  all  had 
liberty  to  question  me.  For  four  mortal  hours,  as  I 
could  see  by  a  clock  in  the  room,  I  conversed  with 
them  and  answered  questions.  We  talked  of  every- 
thing, and  their  questions  grew  more  and  more  pointed. 
I  answered  as  well  as  I  could,  and  never  let  an  oppor- 
tunity pass  to  put  in  a  question  in  turn,  for  it  was  much 
easier  and  less  perilous  to  ask  than  answer.  When  I 
told  them  I  was  from  Kentucky,  they  wished  to  know 
the  county.  I  told  them  Fleming.  They  asked  after 
the  county-seat.  This  also  I  could  give.  But  when 
they  asked  after  adjoining  counties  I  was  sorely  per- 
plexed. One  of  them  said  it  was  singular  a  man  could 
not  bound  his  own  county.  I  asked  how  many  of  them 


IN    THE   EN  EMITS  POWER.  139 

could  bound  the  county  we  then  were  in.  This  ques- 
tion had  a  double  purpose, — to  gain  time  and  informa- 
tion. They  mentioned  several  and  fell  into  a  dispute, 
to  settle  which  a  map  had  to  be  produced.  I  got  a 
look  at  it  also, — a  mere  glance,  for  it  was  soon  out  of 
reach  of  my  eager  gaze;  but  I  had  seen  much.  Then 
they  requested  a  narrative  of  my  journey  all  the  way 
from  Kentucky.  This  I  gave  very  easily  and  in  great 
detail  as  long  as  it  was  on  ground  not  accessible  to  my 
inquisitors.  I  told  the  truth  as  far  as  that  would  not 
be  compromising,  and  then  pieced  out  with  inventions. 
The  time  I  had  spent  on  the  train  and  in  the  woods 
were  hardest  to  arrange  for.  I  had  to  invent  families 
with  whom  I  had  lodged ;  tell  the  number  of  children 
and  servants  at  each  place,  with  all  kinds  of  particulars. 
I  knew  not  how  many  of  my  auditors  might  be  familiar 
with  the  country  I  was  thus  fancifully  populating,  and 
was  careful  not  to  know  too  much.  I  plead  forgetful- 
ness  as  often  as  that  pica  was  plausible,  but  it  would  not 
do  to  use  it  too  often.  I  might  have  refused  to  answer 
any  question,  but  this  would  have  been  a  tacit  admis- 
sion of  some  kind  of  guilt, — at  least  as  good  as  a  mob 
would  have  required.  I  might  safely  use  any  retorts 
and  sharpness  in  conversation, —  and  I  did  talk  with 
perfect  freedom, — but  I  had  the  feeling  that  silence 
would  have  brought  me  in  danger  of  the  lash  and  the 
rope.  Can  the  reader  conceive  of  any  situation  more 
critical  and  perilous :  starving  and  almost  fainting  from 
weariness,  in  the  midst  of  a  growing  tavern  crowd, 
questioned  by  acute  lawyers,  and  obliged  to  keep  every 
faculty  on  the  alert,  feeling  that  an  incautious  answer 
would  probably  lead  to  an  instant  and  frightful  death, 
and  compelled  under  such  pressure  to  tell  falsehood 
after  falsehood  in  unending  succession? 

But  I  had  an  increasing  hope  if  my  endurance  con- 
tinued to  the  end.  At  supper-time  I  meant  to  boldly 
demand  food,  and  I  felt  sure  of  getting  it.  Besides, 
although  they  were  clear  that  I  was  a  suspicious  char- 


140  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

acter,  they  did  not  seem  in  any  way  to  connect  hie  with 
the  great  railroad  expedition, — the  only  identification  I 
feared.  The  very  fact  that  I  was  so  far  away  from  the 
point  where  the  train  was  abandoned  was  in  my  favor. 
Temporary  confinement,  enlistment  in  the  army,  any- 
thing they  were  likely  to  do  was  without  terror  as  long 
as  I  was  not  connected  with  the  daring  adventure 
which  had  culminated  the  day  before.  They  were 
somewhat  perplexed  by  the  assurance  with  which  T 
spoke,  and  held  numerous  private  consultations,  only 
agreeing  that  the  case  needed  further  investigation. 

Matters  were  in  this  position  when  a  man,  riding  a 
horse  covered  with  foam,  dashed  up  to  the  door.  lie 
came  from  Ringgold  and  brought  the  news — of  deeper 
interest  to  me  than  to  any  one  else — that  several  of  the 
bridge-burners  had  been  taken  near  the  place  where 
they  abandoned  the  train.  When  first  apprehended 
they  claimed  to  be  CITIZENS  OF  KENTUCKY,  FROM 
FLEMING  COUNTY  ;  but  on  finding  that  this  did  not 
procure  their  release,  they  confessed  being  Ohio  soldiers, 
sent  by  General  Mitchel  to  burn  the  bridges  on  the 
Georgia  State  Railroad ! 

I  have  no  reason  to  believe  that  any  of  those  who 
were  captured  described  their  companions,  or  gave  any 
information  leading  intentionally  to  their  discovery. 
This  was  not  needed.  The  unfortunate  telling  of  the 
same  fictitious  story  and  the  subsequent  revelation  of 
their  true  character  on  the  part  of  some  of  the  number 
who  were  captured  close  to  the  abandoned  train,  un- 
masked the  others  as  well.  After  the  first  captures, 
which  were  made  Saturday  afternoon,  whenever  a  fugi- 
tive was  arrested  who  hailed  from  Fleming  County, 
Kentucky,  and  was  not  able  to  prove  his  innocence,  he 
was  at  once  set  down  as  a  member  of  the  railroad 
party. 

The  message  from  Ringgold  ended  all  uncertainty  in 
my  own  case.  I  was  at  once  conducted,  under  strict 
guard,  to  the  county  jail. 


IN    THE   ENEMY'S  POWER.  141 

rj  ae  little  major  was  my  escort.  He  took  advantage 
of  .us  position  to  purloin  my  money,  and  then  turned 
me  over  to  the  county  jailer.  That  personage  took  my 
pei  knife  and  other  little  articles  of  property,  then  led 
me  up-stairs,  unfastened  a  door  to  the  right,  which  led 
iuco  a  large  room  with  barred  windows,  and  having  a 
cige,  made  of  crossing  iron  bars,  in  the  centre,  fie 
unlocked  the  small  but  heavy  iron  door  of  the  cage 
and  bade  me  enter.  For  the  first  time  in  my  life  I  was 
to  be  locked  in  jail !  My  reflections  could  not  have 
been  more  gloomy  if  the  celebrated  inscription  had 
been  written  over  the  cage  that  Dante  placed  above  tho 
gate  of  hell,  "  All  hope  abandon,  ye  who  enter  here." 

There  did  seem  absolutely  no  hope  for  me.  I  was 
there  as  a  criminal,  and  I  knew  that  life  was  held  too 
cheaply  in  the  South  for  my  captors  to  be  fastidious 
about  disposing  of  an  unknown  stranger.  I  had  heard 
the  message  from  Rtnggold,  and  at  once  comprehended 
its  bearing  against  me.  Nothing  save  a  confession  of 
my  true  character  as  a  soldier  and  my  real  business  in 
the  South  would  be  credited.  The  probability  was  that 
even  this  would  only  make  my  doom  the  more  speedy. 

In  that  hour  my  most  distressing  thoughts  were  of 
the  friends  at  home,  and  especially  of  my  mother, — 
thinking  what  would  be  their  sorrow  when  they  heard 
of  my  ignominious  fate, —  if,  indeed,  they  ever  heard, 
for  I  had  given  "  John  Thompson"  instead  of  my  own 
name.  That  all  ray  young  hopes  and  ambitions,  my 
fond  dreams  of  being  useful,  should  perish,  as  I  then 
had  no  doubt  they  would,  on  a  Southern  scaffold, 
seemed  utterly  unbearable.  But  one  moment  only  did 
these  thoughts  sweep  over  me;  the  next  they  were  re- 
jected by  a  strong  effort  of  the  will  as  worse  than  use- 
less, and  were  followed  by  a  sense  of  unutterable 
relief,  for  I  could  now  rest.  I  had  found  a  refuge  even 
in  prison,  and  needed  no  longer  to  keep  every  failing 
faculty  at  the  utmost  tension.  The  sweetness  of  rest 
for  the  moment  .overcame  every  other  feeling  save 


142  CAPTIRINQ    A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

hunger,  and  that,  too,  was  .soon  satisfied.  The  jailer 
brought  some  coarse  food,  which  was  devoured  with 
exceeding  relish.  There  was  another  prisoner  in  the 
same  cage, — probably  a  detective,  put  in  for  the  pur- 
pose of  gaining  my  confidence  and  leading  me  to  a  con- 
fession. His  first  step  was  to  plead  ill  health  as  an 
ejccuse  for  not  eating  his  share  of  the  prison  food.  I 
excused  him,  and  ate  his  allowance  as  well  as  my  own 
without  difficulty. 

He  then  wished  to  talk,  and  asked  me  some  ques- 
tions, but  I  was  in  no  mood  for  further  conversation. 
Being  cold  I  borrowed  his  prison  blankets,  of  which  he 
had  a  plentiful  supply,  and,  wrapping  myself  up  in 
them,  soon  sank  into  a  deep  sleep — profound  and 
dreamless — such  as  only  extreme  fatigue  can  produce. 
The  quaint  advice  contained  in  the  last  words  of  my 
companion,  however,  lingered  in  my  memory.  Said 
he, — 

"  If  you  are  innocent  of  the  charge  they  make  against 
pou,  there  is  no  hope  for  you.  You  are  much  worse 
DflT  than  if  you  are  guilty,  for  they  will  hang  you  on 
suspicion,  while,  if  you  are  a  soldier,  you  can  tell  what 
regiment  you  belong  to,  and  claim  protection  as  a 
United  States  prisoner  of  war." 

My  sleep  lasted  until  long  after  dawn  of  the  next 
morning.  This  repose,  with  the  breakfast  which  fol- 
lowed, completely  restored  my  strength,  and  with  the 
elasticity  of  youth  I  began  to  revolve  my  situation  and 
plan  for  the  future.  I  was  not  long  left  in  loneliness. 
The  people  of  the  village  and  surrounding  country 
came  in  throngs  to  see  a  man  who  was  supposed  to  be- 
long to  the  daring  band  of  engine  thieves, — one  of  the 
most  common  names  by  which  our  party  was  recog- 
nized during  our  imprisonment.  They  were  very  free 
in  their  criticisms  of  my  appearance,  and  some  were  very 
insulting  in  their  remarks.  But  I  would  not  allow  my- 
self to  be  drawn  into  conversation  with  them,  for  I  had 
a  momentous  question  to  decide  in  my  own  mind. 


IN   THE   ENEMY'S  POWER.  143 

The  more  I  thought  of  the  advice  of  my  fellow- 
prisoner  the  more  weighty  did  it  appear.  I  did  not 
value  it  because  it  was  his  opinion,  but  because  it 
seemed  reasonable.  I  also  longed  to  assume  my  true 
name  once  more  and  my  position  as  a  soldier.  The 
thought  of  perishing  obscurely  and  in  disguise  was 
most  revolting.  Besides,  I  felt  that  a  soldier  had  more 
chances  of  life  than  a  suspected  wanderer.  Our  gov- 
ernment might  put  forth  energetic  efforts  to  save  those 
who  were  in  such  deadly  peril.  I  remembered,  with 
increasing  hope,  that  the  Federals,  at  this  very  time, 
held  a  number  of  rebel  prisoners  in  Missouri,  who  had 
been  captured  while  disguised  in  Federal  uniform  in- 
side of  our  lines,  engaged  in  an  attempt  very  similar  to 
our  own, — the  burning  of  some  railroad  bridges.  Why 
might  not  these  be  held  as  hostages  to  assure  our  safety, 
or  even  exchanged  for  us  ?  To  entitle  me  to  any  help 
from  our  government  I  must  be  William  Pittenger,  of 
the  Second  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  not  John 
Thompson,  of  Kentucky.  My  mind  was  soon  made 
up, — the  more  readily  that  I  heard  my  citizen  visitors 
talking  about  the  capture  of  several  others  of  our 
party,  who  had  all  admitted  that  they  were  United 
States  soldiers.  They  were  influenced,  no  doubt,  by 
the  same  course  of  reasoning  that  I  have  indicated.  I 
believe  this  decision  ultimately  saved  my  life. 

But  there  was  room  for  choice  as  to  the  manner  of 
making  my  confession.  I  told  the  jailer  that  I  had  an 
important  communication  for  the  authorities,  and  he  re- 
ported the  matter  to  some  person  of  influence,  who  sum- 
moned a  vigilance  committee,  and  ordered  me  before  it. 

I  found  them  prepared  to  renew  the  examination  of 
the  previous  day.  They  had  the  same  lawyers  in  wait- 
ing, and,  indeed,  all  the  principal  men  of  the  town. 
When  their  .preliminaries  were  over,  they  asked  the 
nature  of  the  communication  I  wished  to  make,  and 
hoped  that  I  could  throw  some  light  on  the  mysterious 
capture  of  the  railroad  train.  I  said, — 


144  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

"Gentlemen,  the  statements  I  made  yesterday  were 
intended  to  deceive."  ("So  we  suspected,"  said  one 
of  the  lawyers,  sotto  voce.)  "  I  will  now  tell  you  the 
truth." 

The  clerk  got  his  pen  ready  to  take  down  the  infor- 
mation, and  the  roomful  of  people  assumed  an  attitude 
of  deepest  attention. 

"  Go  on,  sir ;  go  on,"  said  the  president. 

"  I  am  ready,"  said  I,  "  to  give  my  true  name,  and 
the  division  and  regiment  of  the  United  States  army 
to  which  I  belong,  and  to  tell  why  I  came  so  far  into 
your  country." 

"Just  what  we  want  to  know,  sir.  Go  on,"  said 
they.  * 

"  But,"  I  returned,  "  I  will  make  no  statement  what- 
ever until  taken  before  the  regular  military  authority 
of  this  department." 

Their  disappointment  and  surprise  at  this  announce 
ment  were  almost  amusing.  Curiosity  was  raised  te 
the  highest  pitch,  and  did  not  like  to  postpone  its  grati- 
fication. They  employed  every  threat  and  argument 
in  their  power  to  make  me  change  my  decision, — some 
of  them  saying  that  I  should  be  hanged  to  the  nearest 
tree  if  I  did  not.  But  I  knew  my  ground.  I  told 
them  that  though  an  enemy  I  was  a  soldier,  possessed 
of  important  military  information,  and,  if  they  were 
loyal  to  their  cause,  it  was  their  duty  to  take  me  at 
once  before  some  regular  military  authority.  The  lead- 
ing men  admitted  the  justice  of  this  view,  and  when 
they  found  that  I  would  reveal  nothing  there,  they 
made  arrangements  to  take  me  to  Chattanooga.  This 
was  distant  about  twenty  miles  from  Lafayette.  Ring- 
gold,  near  which  we  abandoned  the  train,  was  about  the 
same  distance  to  the  east.  In  that  long  and  terrible 
night  of  wandering  I  had  travelled  twenty  miles  in  a 
straight  line,  and,  with  my  meanderings,  must  have 
walked  more  than  fifty. 

My  reason  for  postponing  my  confession  until  reach- 


IN   THK   ENKMTS    1>O\VER.  145 

ing  Chattanooga  was  that  I  wanted  to  get  out  of  the 
hands  of  the  mob  as  soon  as  possible.     There  was  no 
body  of  soldiers  or  responsible  authority  in  Lafayette.        \ 
If  I  had  perished   there  no  one,  in  any  contingency,        ' 
could  have  been  called  to  account  for  it.     Where  a  de-       / 
partment  commander  was  stationed  I  would  have  to 
reckon  with  him  alone,  which  was  far  preferable,  and 
I  counted  on  the  curiosity  of  the  mob  to  preserve  me 
as  long  as  my  secret  was  not  revealed. 

I  was  remanded  to  the  jail  to  wait  for  the  prepara- 
tion of  a  suitable  escort.  After  dinner  about  a  dozen 
men  entered  my  room,  and  guarded  me  out  to  the 
public  square.  There  a  carriage  was  waiting,  in  which 
I  was  placed,  and  then  commenced  the  complicated 
process  of  tying  and  chaining. 

By  this  time  a  great  mob  had  gathered,  completely 
filling  the  square,  and  in  the  most  angry  and  excited 
condition.  Some  persons  questioned  me  in  loud  and 
imperious  tones,  demanding  why  I  came  down  there  to 
fight  them,  and  adding  every  possible  word  of  insult. 
F  heard  many  significant  hints  about  getting  ropes,  and 
the  folly  of  taking  me  to  Chattanooga  when  I  could  be 
hanged  just  as  well  there. 

For  a  little  time  I  made  no  answer  to  any  question, 
and  paid  as  little  attention  as  possible  to  what  was  said. 
But  the 'tumult  increased,  and  the  mob  grew  so  violent 
in  'its  denunciations  that  I  feared  a  passive  policy  would 
no  longer  serve.  Though  I  was  being  very  effectually" 
bound,  my  tongue  was  still  at  liberty.  I  had  no  ex- 
perience in  managing  mobs,  but  I  felt,  by  a  kind  of 
instinct,  that  mobs  and  dogs  are  very  similar, — neither 
likos  to  attack  a  person  who  quietly  and  good-humor- 
edly  faces  them.  I  had  proved  this  with  savage  dogs 
several  times  for  mere  sport,  but  this  was  a  more  seri- 
ous matter.  I  was  not  much  in  the  humor  of  talking, 
but  it  was  better  to  be  led  by  policy  than  by  inclina- 
tion. Selecting,  therefore,  some  of  the  nearest  persons, 
I  spoke  to  them.  They  answered  with  curses,  but  in 
•  k  18 


146  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

the  very  act  of  cursing  they  grew  mildei  and  more 
willing  to  converse.  I  answered  their  innuendoes  cheer- 
fully, jesting,  whenever  opportunity  offered,  about  the 
manner  I  was  being  secured,  the  bracelets  they  were 
giving  me,  the  care  they  had  for  a  "  Yankee,"  as  they 
persisted  in  calling  me,  and  tried  to  look  and  speak  as 
if  the  whole  matter  were  a  mere  comedy.  I  soon  got 
some  of  the  laughers  on  my  side,  and  before  long  had 
the  satisfaction  of  hearing  one  man  say,  regretfully, 
"  Pity  he  is  a  Yankee,  for  he  seems  to  be  a  good  fel- 
low," and  another  agree  to  the  sentiment.  Yet  I  was 
not  sorry  to  hear  the  driver  announce  that  we  were 
now  ready  to  start. 

The  manner  in  which  I  was  tied  indicated  that  my 
captors  intended  to  "  make  assurance  doubly  sure,  and 
take  a  bond  of  fate."  One  end  of  a  heavy  chain  was 
put  around  my  neck,  and  fastened  there  with  a  pad- 
lock; the  other  end  was  passed  behind  the  carriage- 
scat,  and  hitched  to  my  foot  in  the  same  manner,  the 
chain  being  extended  to  its  full  length  while  I  was  in 
a  sitting  position,  thus  rendering  it  impossible  for  me 
to  rise.  My  hands  were  tied  together,  my  elbows  were 
pinioned  to  my  sides  by  ropes,  and,  to  crown  all,  I  \va.« 
firmly  bound  to  the  carriage-seat,  while  two  horsemen, 
armed  with  pistols  and  carbines,  followed  the  carriage 
at  a  short  distance,  and  my  evil  genius,  the  little  major, 
took  the  seat  beside  me,  likewise  armed  to  the  teeth.  1' 
ought  to  have  felt  secure,  but  did  not.  The  same  ex- 
aggerated caution  was  often  noticed  afterwards. 

As  we  left  Lafayette  behind,  the  sky,  which  had 
been  clouded  for  days,  suddenly  cleared.  The  sun 
shone  in  beauty,  and  smiled  on  the  first  faint  dawning? 
of  spring  that  lay  in  tender  green  on  the  surroiindinp 
hills.  What  would  I  not  have  given  for  such  a  dav 
forty-eight  hours  earlier !  But  even  then  it  was  verv 
welcome,  and  my  spirit  grew  more  light  as  I  breathou 
the  fresh  air  and  listened  to  the  singing  of  the  birds. 

My  companions  were  quite  talkative,  and  I  respond**  J 


IN    THE   ENEMY'S   POWER.  147 

as  well  as  I  could.  They  even  tried  to  make  me  think 
that  the  extraordinary  manner  in  which  I  was  tied  and 
guarded — with  which  I  reproached  them — was  a  com- 
pliment, showing  that  they  had  formed  a  high  opinion 
of  my  daring  character  !  Their  conversation  was  pleas- 
ant and  courteous  enough,  except  that  when  they  passed 
houses  they  would  cry  out,  "  We've  got  a  live  Yankee 
here !"  Then  men,  women,  and  children  would  rush 
to  the  door,  staring  as  if  they  saw  some  great  monster, 
and  asking, — 

"  Whar  did  you  ketch  him  ?  Goin'  to  hang  him 
when  you  get  him  to  Chattanooga?'1'  and  similar  ex- 
pressions without  number. 

I  cared  little  for  this  at  first,  but  its  perpetual  recur- 
rence was  not  without  its  effect  in  making  me  think 
that  tliey  really  would  hang  me.  In  fact,  my  pros- 
pects were  far  from  encouraging ;  yet  I  considered  it 
my  duty  to  keep  up  my  spirits  and  hold  despair  at 
arm's  length  while  any  possible  ground  for  hope  re- 
mained. The  afternoon  wore  slowly  away  as  we  jour- 
neyed amid  grand  and  romantic  scenery  that  in  any 
other  circumstances  would  have  been  enthusiastically 
enjoyed.  But  now  my  thoughts  were  otherwise  en- 
gaged. 

I  was  not  so  much  afraid  of  death  in  itself  as  of  the 
manner  in  which  it  was  likely  to  come.  Death  amid 
the  smoke  and  excitement  and  glory  of  battle  never  had 
seemed  half  so  terrible  as  it  now  did  when  it  stood,  an 
awful  spectre,  beside  the  gallows !  And  even  sadder 
tt  was  to  think  of  friends  who  would  count  the  weary 
months,  waiting  and  longing  for  my  return,  till  hope 
became  torturing  suspense,  and  suspense  deepened  into 
despair.  These  and  kindred  thoughts  were  almost  too 
much  for  my  fortitude;  yet,  setting  my  teeth  hard,  I 
resolved  to  endure  patiently  to  the  end. 

The  sun  went  down,  and  night  came  on, — deep, 
calm,  and  clear.  One  by  one  the  stars  twinkled  into 
light  I  gazed  upon  their  beauty  with  new  feelings, 


148  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

as  I  wondered  whether  a  few  more  suns  might  not  set 
me  free  from  the  short  story  of  earthly  tilings  and  make 
me  a  dweller  beyond  the  sky.  A  spirit  of  prayer 
and  the  faint  beginnings  of  trust  stirred  within  me. 
Hitherto  I  had  been  looking  at  passing  events  alone, 
and  refusing  to  contemplate  the  great  new  experiences 
death  would  open.  But  now  my  thoughts  took  a  new 
direction.  God  was  helping  me,  and  inclining  my 
heart  upward.  I  was  to  pass  through  many  more  ter- 
rible scenes  and  taste  bitter  sorrows  before  I  could  rec- 
ognize His  voice  and  fully  repose  on  His  love.  I  was 
not  then  a  member  of  church  nor  a  professor  of  re- 
ligion. I  believed  the  doctrines  of  Christianity,  and 
purposed  some  day  to  give  them  practical  attention.  It 
had  been  easy  to  postpone  this  purpose,  and,  latterly, 
the  confusion  and  bustle  of  camp-life  had  almost  driven 
the  subject  out  of  my  mind.  But  now  God  appeared 
very  near,  and,  even  amid  foes  and  dangers,  I  see'med 
to  have  hold  of  some  hand,  firm  but  kind,  beyond  the 
reach  of  vision.  What  influence  was  most  powerful  in 
turning  my  thoughts  upward  I  cannot  tell, — whether 
it  was  the  familiar  outlines  of  the  grand  constellations, 
the  quiet  and  stillness  all  around,  so  congenial  to  ex- 
hausted nature  after  tlfe  excitement  of  the  last  few  days, 
or  a  yet  more  direct  message  from  the  Highest, — I 
only  know  that  the  memory  of  that  evening,  when  I 
was  carried,  chained,  down  the  long  hill  to  the  valley 
in  which  Chattanooga  lies,  there  to  meet  an  unknown 
fate,  is  one  of  the  sweetest  of  my  life.  My  babbling 
guards  had  subsided  into  silence,  and,  as  we  wended 
along  through  the  gathering  darkness,  high  and  noble 
thoughts  of  the  destiny  of  man  filled  my  breast,  and 
death  appeared  only  a  mere  incident  of  existence, — the 
gate  out  of  one  department  of  being  into  another.  I 
was  nerved  for  any  fate. 

It  may  be  thought  strange  that  in  these  moments  of 
reflection  and  spiritual  yearning  I  had  no  feeling  of  re 
morse  for  any  of  the  deceptions  of  which  I  had 


IN    TUP:   ENEMTS   POWER  149 

guilty.  But  I  had  not.  It  did  not  even  occur  to  me 
to  consider  thorn  as  sins  at  all.  If  necessary  or  expe- 
dient I  would  then  have  added  to  them  the  sanction 
of  an  oath  with  equal  recklessness.  Some  sophistry — 
felt  rather  than  reasoned  out — about  the  lawfulness  of 
deceiving  or  injuring  public  enemies  or  rebels  in  any 
possible  way — a  conviction  that  they  had  forfeited 
everything,  even  their  right  to  be  told  truth — must 
have  controlled  me.  Before  starting  on  this  expedition 
I  had  placed  the  highest  value  on  truth,  and  would 
have  regarded  a  wilful  lie  with  scorn  and  loathing. 
But  I  accepted  deception  as  one  of  the  incidents  of  the 
enterprise,  and  all  sense  of  its  wrongfulncss  passed 
away,  and  did  not  return  until  long  afterwards. 

We  arrived  at  Chattanooga  while  a  feeble  glow  of 
the  soft  spring  twilight  lingered  in  the  air.  The  head- 
rpuarters  of  General  Leadbetter,  then  district  com- 
mander, was  in  one  of  the  principal  hotels  of  the  town, 
and  we  at  once  drove  there.  I  was  left  in  the  carriage 
while  the  major  ascended  to  inform  him  of  the  arrival. 

The  town  had  already  been  informed.  The  curiosity 
to  see  one  of  the  men  who  had  captured  the  train  and 
frightened  the  women  and  children  of  Chattanooga 
into  the  woods  only  two  days  before  was  intense,  and  a 
very  large  crowd  soon  assembled.  They  behaved  as 
such  assemblages  usually  did,  jeering  and  hooting,  and 
calling  me  by  every  epithet  of  reproach  the  language 
afforded, — wanting  to  know  why  I  came  down  there  to 
burn  their  property  and  murder  them  and  their  children 
as  well  as  free  their  negroes.  To  these  multitudinous 
questions  and  assertions  I  made  no  answer.  I  was 
much  amused  (afterward !)  by  their  criticisms  of  my 
appearance.  One  would  say  that  "  it  was  a  pity  so 
young  and  clever-looking  a  man  should  be  caught  in 
such  a  scrape."  Another,  of  more  penetrating  cast, 
"  could  tell  that  he  was  a  rogue  by  his  looks, — probably 
came  out  of  prison  in  his  own  country."  Another  was 
surprised  that  I  could  hold  up  my  head  and  look  around 

13* 


160  CAPTURIKO   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

on  honest  men,  arguing  that  such  brazen  effrontery  in 
one  so  young  was  a  proof  of  enormous  depravity  of 
heart.  I  gave  no  opinion  on  the  subject.  Indeed,  I 
was  not  asked. 

There  was  one  man  I  noticed  in  particular.  He  was 
tall  and  venerable-looking;  had  gray  hair, 'gray  beard, 
a  magnificent  forehead,  and,  altogether,  a  command- 
ing and  intellectual  expression.  He  was  treated  with 
marked  deference  by  the  throng,  and  as  they  parted 
and  allowed  him  to  come  up  to  my  carriage,  the  thought 
arose,  "Surely  I  will  receive  some  sympathy  from  that 
kind  and  noble-looking  man." 

His  first  question  confirmed  my  hope.     Said  he, — 

"  How  old  are  you  ?" 

I  answered,  "  Twenty-two,  sir." 

Gradually  his  lip  wreathed  itself  into  a  curl  of  un- 
utterable scorn,  and,  gazing  steadily  on  me,  he  slowly 
uttered, — 

"  Poor  young  fool !  And  I  suppose  you  were  a 
school-teacher  or  something  of  that  kind  in  your  own 
land !  And  you  thought  you  would  come  down  here 
and  rob  us,  and  burn  our  houses,  and  murder  us,  did 
you?  Now  let  me  give  you  a  little  advice:  if  you  ever 
get  home  again,  (but  you  never  will !)  do  try,  for  God's 
sake,  and  have  a  little  better  sense  and  stay  there." 
Then  he  turned  contemptuously  on  his  heel  and  strode 
away.  The  rabble  rewarded  him  with  a  cheer.  I 
could  never  find  out  who  he  was;  but  after  that  I 
looked  for  no  more  sympathy  in  that  crowd. 

My  conductor  now  returned  and  escorted  me  into  the 
presence  of  General  Leadbetter.  I  was  glad  of  the 
change,  though  there  was  little  about  this  man  to  in- 
spire confidence.  They  said  he  was  from  the  North 
originally, — a  native  of  Maine,  T  believe.  His  habits 
were  so  intemperate  that  a  Confederate  captain  after- 
wards informed  me  that  he  always  lived  in  one  of  two 
states, — either  dead  drunk  or  gentlemanly  drunk.  His 
record  was,  even  this  early  in  the  war,  of  a  very  ill 


IN   THE  E  A' EM  PS   POWER.  151 

character,  for  he  had  been  the  principal  agent  in  hang- 
ing a  considerable  number  of  East  Tennessee  Union 
men  under  circumstances  of  great  barbarity.  To  this, 
it  was  said,  he  owed  his  present  position.  Such  was 
the  man  in  whose  hands  my  fate  now  rested. 

All  the  facts  concerning  him  I  learned  afterwards, 
except  one  that  was  apparent  when  I  entered  the  room, 
lie  was  considerably  under  the  influence  of  liquor, 
though  not  to  an  extent  which  interfered  with  the 
transaction  of  business.  He  began  to  question  me,  and 
without  any  regard  for  truth  I  gave  him  the  story  thai 
I  supposed  would  be  best  for  my  own  interest.  I  told 
him  I  was  a  United  States  soldier,  giving  my  name, 
company,  and  regiment  correctly ;  but  told  him  I  was 
sent  on  this  expedition  without  my  previous  consent, 
and  was  ignorant  of  where  I  was  going  or  what  I  was 
to  do,  which  I  only  learned  as  fast  as  it  was  to  be  ex- 
ecuted. He  next  inquired  who  was  our  engineer,  but 
I  refused  to  tell.  I  afterwards  found  that  they  were 
exceedingly  anxious  to  discover  the  name  of  the  person 
who  ran  our  train,  imagining  him  to  be  some  official 
connected  with  the  Georgia  State  Railroad.  He  then 
asked  after  the  purpose  of  the  expedition.  I  pleaded 
ignorance  as  far  as  any  positive  information  went ;  but 
as  this  did  not  satisfy  him,  I  gave  him  my  inferences. 
There  was  no  betrayal  of  Union  interests  in  this,  for 
all  I  told  him  was  what  any  thoughtful  person,  map 
in  hand,  would  have  supposed, — the  destruction  of 
bridges  and  the  capture  of  Chattanooga  and  the  occu- 
pation of  East  Tennessee.  He  was  very  attentive,  and 
said, — 

"But  has  Mitchel  men  enough  for  all  that?  My 
spies  report  that  he  has  not  more  than  ten  thousand 
infantry  and  three  regiments  of  cavalry." 

This  was  so  near  the  truth  that  I  did  not  wish  to 
confirm  it.  So  I  took  another  departure  from  accuracy, 
and  ^aid, — 

"  That  must  refer  only  to  his  advance-guard,  and 


152  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

leaves  out  of  account  that  part  of  his  command  which 
has  not  yet  left  Nashville." 

"  What !"  he  returned,  "  is  there  a  reserve  army  ?" 

I  assured  him  there  was,  and  that  with  the  regiments 
on  their  way  from  the  West  and  Northwest,  sixty  or 
seventy  thousand  men  would  be  at  ISaslmlle  for 
Mitchel's  disposal  in  three  or  four  weeks ! 

Leadbetter  then  asked,  "  What  do  you  soldiers  think 
ia  going  to  be  done  with  such  a  large  army?" 

"  We  are  confident,"  I  answered,  "  that  Chattanooga 
will  first  be  captured,  then  Atlanta,  and  afterwards 
Mitchel  may  probably  strike  for  some  point  on  the 
coast,  so  as  to  cut  the  Confederacy  in  halves/' 

The  general  rubbed  his  forehead  for  a  rnoimmt,  then 
exclaimed, — 

"It's  a  grand  plan.  They  can  do  it  if  th»y  have 
men  enough.  But  I  had  no  idea  that  Mitchel  had 
such  backing." 

How  I  did  wish  that  he  had !  but  I  knew  better. 

Then  wheeling  his  chair  directly  in  front,  and  flxing 
his  eye  steadily  on  me,  he  continued, — 

"I  am  much  obliged  to  you  for  this  infori/u^ion. 
Xow,  sir,  I  want  you  to  tell  me  just  how  many  men 
you  had  on  that  train,  and  to  describe  each  one  so  that 
I  may  know  them  when  I  get  hold  of  them." 

This  was  too  much  !  I  answered,  "  General,  I  have 
freely  told  you  whatever  concerns  only  mvself,  because 
I  thought  you  ought  to  know  that  I  am  a  soldier  under 
the  protection  of  the  United  States  government.  But 
I  am  not  base  enough  to  describe  my  comrades." 

"  Oh !"  sneered  he,  "  ]  don't  know  that  I  ought  to 
have  asked  you  that." 

"  I  think  not,  sir,"  I  replied. 

"  Well,"  retorted  he,  "  you  need  not  be  so  particular. 
I  know  all  about  it.  Your  leader's  name  is  Andrews. 
What  kind  of  a  man  is  he  ?" 

I  was  thunderstruck!  How  should  ho  have  An- 
drews' name,  and  know  him  to  be  our  leader?  i 


OTHER   CAPTURES.  153 

never  imagined  what  I  afterwards  found  to  be  the  true 
cause, — that  Andrews  had  been  captured,  with  docu- 
ments in  his  possession  which  implicated  him  so  com- 
pletely that  he  acknowledged  his  name  and  the  fact 
of  his  leadership.  I  had  every  confidence  that  he,  at 
least,  would  escape  and  devise  some  means  for  our  re- 
lief. So  I  answered  boldly, — 

"I  can  tell  you  only  one  thing  about  him,  and  that 
is,  he  is  a  man  you  will  never  catch." 

As  I  said  this  I  thought  I  noticed  a  peculiar  smile 
on  the  general's  face,  but  he  only  replied, — 

"  That  will  do  for^  you ;"  and  turning  to  a  captain 
who  stood  by,  continued  :  "  Take  him  to  the  hole, — you 
know  where  that  is." 

With  a  military  salute,  the  captain  took  me  out  of 
the  room.  There  was  an  explanation  of  the  general's 
smile !  Before  the  door,  heavily  ironed,  stood  An- 
drews, waiting  for  an  audience,  and  with  him  Marion 
Ross  and  John  Wollam.  I  did  not  think  it  prudent 
to  recognize  them,  nor  they  to  recognize  me,  so  w 
passed  each  other  as  strangers. 


CHAPTER    IX. 

OTHER   CAPTURES. 

As  all  the  members  of  our  party  were  ultimately  as- 
sembled at  Chattanooga,  so  that  from  that  time  our 
stories  flow  together,  it  is  now  well  to  bring  the  sepa- 
rated threads  of  narration  down  to  that  point.  One 
of  the  siiortest  and  most  lamentable  was  that  of  Jacob 
Parrot  and  Samuel  Robinson,  both  of  the  Thirty-third 
Ohio  Regiment.  When  they  left  the  train  in  company 
they  reached  the  woods,  but  on  the  wrong  side'  of  the 
road.  After  being  concealed  for  a  short  time  they 


164  CAPTURING    A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

came  back  to  the  railroad,  but  in  attempting  to  cross 
it  were  observed  by  four  citizens  and  captured.  They 
were  immediately  conducted  to  Ringgold,  where  a  com- 
pany of  Confederate  soldiers  was  stationed.  A  course 
of  questioning  here  began,  but  Parrot  refused  to  tell 
anything.  He  was  but  little  over  eighteen  years  of 
age,  very  boyish-looking,  and  entirely  destitute  of  edu- 
cation. So  they  seem  to  have  thought  him  a  favorable 
subject  for  receiving  the  treatment  applied  to  those  fu- 
gitive slaves  who  hesitate  in  answering  questions.  He 
was  taken  out  of  the  room  by  an  officer  and  four  men, 
who  stripped  him  and,  holding  him  down  over  a  large 
stone,  administered  over  one  hundred  lashes  on  his 
bare  back,  leaving  scars  which  the  writer  has  often 
seen,  and  which  he  will  carry  to  his  grave.  Three 
times  the  whipping  was  suspended,  the  poor  boy  let  up 
and  asked  if  he  was  ready  to  confess,  and  on  his  refusal 
he  was  thrown  down  again,  and  the  torture  continued. 
They  wished  to  force  from  him  the  name  of  the  en- 
gineer and  the  particulars  of  the  expedition.  But  all 
their  eiforts  were  in  vain.  The  crowd  procured  a  rope 
and  were  about  to  hang  him,  but  an  officer  of  higher 
rank  came  up  and  prevented  this  final  barbarity. 

The  wonderful  fortitude  of  the  poor  boy  was  of  no 
avail.  He  and  his  comrade  were  caught  so  near  the 
place  where  they  left  the  disabled  engine,  and  they 
were  so  utterly  unable  to  give  any  account  of  the  man- 
ner in  which  they  came  to  be  there,  that  both  would 
no  doubt  have  perished  if  Robinson  had  not — after 
first  trying  the  Fleming  County,  Kentucky,  story,  and 
being  falsely  informed  that  Parrot  had  C'-^-sed  every- 
thing— finally  given  his  name  and  regiment,  with  the 
general  outline  of  the  expedition.  After  this  confes- 
sion they  were  imprisoned  for  a  time  in  Ringgold,  and 
afterwards  brong'it  to  Chattanooga. 

D.  A.  Dorsey  uirnishes  ire  an  account  of  his  adven- 
tures, which  were  in  some  respects  peculiar.  My  own 
special  friend,  Geoiye  D.  Wilson,  was  with  him,  as  well 


OTHER    CAPTURES.  155 

as  William  Bensinger  and  Robert  Buffum.    I  use  Dor- 
sey's  own  graphic  language, — 

"  We  fled  from  our  broken  down  iron-horse  in  a  northeastcrly 
direction  towards  the  adjacent  hills.  These  were  sparsely  studded 
with  timber,  but  almost  entirely  destitute  of  undergrowth,  and,  of 
course,  afforded  but  little  opportunity  to  hide  from  our  pursuers. 
The  latter  were  following  upon  our  trail,  well  armed  and  very 
numerous.  Here  occurred  the  Orst  of  many  an  amusing  scene, 
such  as  often  light  up  the  most  horrible  situation.  Uufl'um  had 
worn  a  peculiar  long  gray  coat,  reaching  nearly  to  his  feet,  of 
which  he  had  been  very  proud.  Now  he  found  it  a  sore  im- 
pediment to  his  precipitate  flight,  and  unbuttoning  it,  ran  right 
out  of  it,  leaving  it  spread  out  on  the  old  dry  weeds  behind  him, 
— not  even  stopping  to  get  the  bottle  out  of  the  pocket,  in  which 
he  and  I  had  been  deeply  interested  for  the  past  twenty-four 
hours. 

"  On  we  went,  or  rather  flew,  until  we  had  distanced  our  pur- 
suers, and  found  ourselves  in  a  denser  forest.  It  was  very  cloudy 
The  sun  was  completely  hidden,  and  we  could  not  tell  which  was 
north,  south,  east,  or  west.  AVe  wandered  on  until  near  mid- 
night, when  we  came  to  a  log  hut  in  a  small  opening,  surrounded 
by  a  dilapidated  rail-fence.  The  light  of  a  blazing  fire  shone 
through  the  cracks  in  the  wall,  and  we  walked  to  the  door  and 
knocked  repeatedly.  Getting  no  answer,  Wilson  pulled  the 
latch-string  and  walked  in.  There  a  tall  Georgian  lay  stretched 
at  full  length  on  the  floor,  with  his  bare  feet  to  the  fire,  almost 
undressed,  and  suffering  all  the  agonies  of  colic.  Over  him  bent 
his  better  half,  busily  engaged  in  administering  hot-ash  poultices. 
Of  course,  under  such  circumstances,  our  application  for  food 
availed  nothing,  and  we  were  obliged  to  plod  on  through  the  dark- 
ness, mud,  and  rain.  Before  morning  we  came  to  another  cabin, 
which  we  did  not  enter,  but  borrowed  a  pail  of  milk  from  the 
porch,  and  taking  it  to  the  woods,  speedily  devoured  it.  Then 
we  wandered  on,  hoping  for  clear  sky,  but  the  clouds  were  un- 
broken, and  our  wandering  at  random  continued  all  the  morning. 

"  About  ten  o'clock,  in  the  forenoon,  we  saw  some  persons  on 
horseback,  who  were-evidently  hunting  for  us.  We  managed  to 
elude  them,  and  getting  back  to  ground  they  had  passed  over, 
concealed  ourselves  by  lying  down.  Several  other  parties  were 
seen,  but  by  shifting  our  position  we  avoided  them  for  some 
hours.  The  increasing  number  of  our  pursuers,  however,  con 
Tinced  us  that  we  were  in  the  most  deadly  peril. 

"  '  Oh,  ye  woods,  spread  your  branches  apace ! 

To  your  deepest  recesses  I  fly ; 
I  would  hide  with  the  beasts  of  the  chase, 
I  would  vanish  from  every  eye 


156  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

" '  And  hark  !  and  hark  !  the  deep-mouthed  bark 

Comes  nigher  still  and  nigher. 
Burst  on  the  path  a  dark  blood-hound, 
His  tawny  muzzle  tracked  the  ground, 
And  his  red  eye  shot  fire.' 

"  These  words  of  the  poet  were  fully  echoed  by  my  feeling* 
The  much-dreaded  blood-hound  was  upon  our  trail.  We  dis- 
covered three  of  them  descending  a  hill  over  which  we  had  re- 
cently passed,  right  on  our  track,  and  four  men  behind  them. 
A.S  soon  as  the  latter  discovered  us,  one  df  their  number  hallooed, 
\nd  was  answered  by  shouts  in  every  direction.  This  demon- 
strated that  we  were  surrounded.  We  advanced  and  boldly  met 
the  first  four,  and  endeavored  to  deceive  them  as  to  our  real 
character.  Our  denials  of  being  the  men  who  captured  the  train 
the  day  before  were  all  to  no  purpose.  Soon  we  were  surrounded 
by  at  least  fifty  men,  armed  with  shot-guns,  rifles,  and  pistols. 
One  man  carried  a  long  rope.  To  say  they  were  furious  would 
be  a  mild  description.  They  demanded,  in  all  kinds  of  profane 
and  vindictive  language,  our  immediate  surrender.  We  were 
separated  into  two  squads.  Buffum  and  Bensinger  stood  together, 
and  did  what  they  could  to  prove  that  they  were  victims  of  a 
case  of  mistaken  identity,  Wilson  and  I  were  a  few  yards  distant, 
and,  as  he  was  the  better  talker,  I  left  it  all  to  him.  He  pro 
tested  that  we  were  not  the  men  they  wanted,  but  citizens  of 
Virginia  hunting  for  fugitive  slaves.  He  told  a  very  nice  and 
plausible  story, — I  thought  it  ought  to  have  convinced  any  reason- 
able man, — but  it  was  in  vain." 

[This  was  the  only  case,  except  one,  so  far  as  I  know, 
svhere  the  Kentucky  story  was  varied  from,  and  even 
men  Buffum  and  Bensinger  were  using  it.  Had  Wil- 
son and  Dorsey  been  alone  they  might  have  succeeded 
Better.  Dorsey  continues :  ] 

«  We  had  to  surrender  or  fight.  The  latter  course  would  have 
been  madness.  We  handed  over  our  revolvers  and  pocket-knivea 
on  demand,  and  then  commenced  the  most  terrible  threats  of 
vengeance.  A  young  blood,  who  appeared  not  more  than  six- 
teen, put  a  pistol  at  Wilson's  head,  and  would,  no  doubt,  have 
shot  him  had  he  not  been  prevented  by  one  they  called  '  major.' 
A.  rough  fellow  they  called  '  Black  Billy'  presented  a  doublc- 
jarreled  shot-gun  to  my  breast,  swore  he  had  sixteen  buckshot  in 
each  barrel,  and  unless  I  made  a  '  clean  breast'  of  it  he  would 
blow  them  all  through  me.  This  roused  my  indignation,  and 
considering  my  life  worth  nothing  if  I  confessed,  while  a  con- 
fession might  implicate  others,  I  said,  '  Gentlemen,  we  have  sur- 
rendered, and  you  have  our  arms.  We  are  in  your  power.  If 
you  want  to  shoot,  just  sh<" •<  !' 


OTHER    CAPTURES.  157 

"  Throwing  my  breast  forward,  in  full  expectation  of  receiving 
the  shot,  I  was  surprised  to  see  him  drop  the  butt  of  his  gun  to 
the  ground  and  make  arrangements  for  tying  our  hands.  Hav- 
ing thus  secured  us,  they  conducted  us  to  a  house  about  a  mile 
away,  and  gave  us  a  pretty  good  dinner. 

"  Here  we  learned  that  a  reward  of  one  hundred  dollars  had 
been  offered  for  each  of  the  'engine  thieves.'  We  also  learned 
that  we  were  only  nine  miles  from  Ringgold,  which  convinced  us 
that  much  of  our  travelling  the  night  before  must  have  been  on 
the  back  track.  "We  were  certainly  not  as  far  from  Kinggold  when 
captured  as  we  had  been  when  the  previous  night  set  in. 

"After  dinner  we  were  taken  to  Kinggold  on  foot,  and  put  into 
jail, — the  first  one  into  which  I  had  ever  set  my  foot.  It  was 
Sunday,  April  13,  1862.  This  same  evening  we  were  all  re- 
moved by  rail  to  Marietta,  Georgia,  where  we  arrived  about 
midnight,  and  were  there  placed  in  a  literal  dungeon  of  the 
worst  character, — dark,  dreary,  damp,  and  swarming  with  rats 
and  smaller  vermin.  From  this  point  we  had  started  northward 
for  the  capture  of  the  train  two  days  before  with  high  hopea. 
What  adventures  since  that  time  I 

"  We  hoped  when  day  dawned  that  there  would  be  some  light 
in  this  filthy  hole,  but  we  were  disappointed,  for,  although  we 
could  distinguish  the  difference  between  day  and  night,  yet  rot 
enough  light  entered  this  dismal  place  to  enable  us  to  recognise 
our  most  intimate  friend  1 

"A  heavy  guard  of  six  hundred  cadets  was  placed  around  us 
for  the  purpose  of  keeping  down  the  mob.  We  were  told  tha;  a 
whole  company  of  rebel  soldiers  had  left  camp  at  Big  rihanty  to 
come  to  Marietta  to  lynch  us,  but  were  overtaken  by  their  oJi- 
cers  wnen  about  half-way  to  Marietta  and  dissuaded  from  so 
rash  an  act,  the  officers  arguing  that  we  were  soldiers,  and  it 
would  not  do  for  them  to  thus  violate  the  rules  of  war,  and  also 
assuring  them  that  we  would  be  properly  dealt  with,  and,  in  du« 
time,  executed.  They  thus  succeeded  in  turning  them  back  to 
earn  p. 

"  We  remained  here  a  whole  day  and  two  nights.  On  Tues- 
day we  heard  a  strange  noise, — a  horrible  clanking  and  rattling 
of  chains,  while  a  footstep  was  heard  mounting  the  outside  stair- 
case, which  was  the  only  one.  Into  the  hall  the  jailer  came  (for 
it  was  he),  and,  opening  the  trap-door,  ran  a  ladder  down  into 
our  dungeon.  Then  he  called  Wilson  up  into  the  hall,  and  put 
one  end  of  a  new  trace-chain  round  his  neck,  and  locked  it  with 
a  padlock,  while  he  also  placed  a  pair  of  handcuffs  on  his  hands. 
I  was  then  called,  the  other  end  of  the  trace-chain  put  around  my 
neck,  and  my  hands  secured  in  the  same  manner.  We  were  thus 
coupled  together  by  the  neck,  as  well  as  handcuffed.  Bensinger 
and  Buffum  were  used  in  the  same  way.  Then  Hawkins  and  Por- 
ter, of  whose  presence  we  had  no  previous  knowledge,  were  called 
out,  chained  and  ironed  in  the  same  manner.  We  were  then 
conducted  to  a  box-car,  which  had  in  it  some  bales  of  cotton 

14 


158  CAPTURING   A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

and  started  northward.  The  sergeant  in  charge  of  us  stopped  the 
party  at  Dalton,  and  awaited  the  arrival  of  the  officer  in  com- 
mand, who  was  to  come  on  the  next  train.  It  was  night,  and, 
although  our  guard  was  as  kind  as  they  well  could  be  under  the 
circumstances,  they  had  no  means  of  feeding  us.  A  mob  sur- 
rounded the  depot  and  threatened  to  hang  us,  but  the  guards 
managed,  not  without  serious  difficulty,  to  keep  them  off.  Here 
we  had  a  most  grateful  surprise, — one  of  the  few  really  pleasant 
incidents  which  mitigated  the  horrors  of  our  experience.  A  few 
Dalton  ladies,  with  their  servants,  came  into  the  waiting-room, 
and  supplied  us  with  a  first-class  supper.  We  relished  it  hugely, 
for  we  had  been  altogether  without  dinner,  and  our  breakfast  was 
of  the  scantiest  character.  This  was  the  first  meal  we  had  ever 
eaten  with  chains  and  irons  upon  us,  and,  as  the  reader  may 
judge,  we  felt  and  acted  very  awkwardly  with  these  useless 
appendages.  The  ladies  who  had  been  so  bountiful,  requested 
some  of  our  party  to  stand  up  that  they  might  have  a  good  look 
at  them.  They  complied,  in  pairs  at  a  time,  and,  when  the  other 
four  had  passed  inspection  and  resumed  their  seats,  their  little 
servant-boy  came  with  the  same  request  to  Wilson  and  myself. 
Wilson  very  politely  declined,  instructing  the  boy  to  '  tell  the 
ladies  that  we  are  not  here  on  exhibition,  but,  if  they  will  come 
jver  this  way,  we  will  be  glad  to  see  and  talk  with  them.'  Thj 
offer  was  accepted,  and  two,  a  matron  and  young  lady,  appar- 
ently mother  and  daughter,  came  to  our  side  of  the  room,  and  we 
had  a  conversation  long  to  be  remembered.  They  sympathizeo 
with  us,  and  wept  freely.  With  us  the  wound  was  too  deep  for 
tears.  The  ladies  returned  to  the  other  part  of  the  room  when 
the  conversation  was  ended,  but  took  seats,  and  remained  until 
the  expected  train  arrived  and  we  started  for  Chattanooga.  All 
this  time  the  mob  was  howling  and  cursing  and  threatening  out- 
side, and  we  flatter  ourselves  that  the  ladies  stayed  to  exert  a  re- 
straining influence,  and  hinder  them  from  proceeding  to  extrem- 
ities. Before  we  left,  the  younger  lady  referred  to  sent  the  little 
"  boy  to  me  with  a  pink  rose,  with  one  row  of  leaves  around  it,  and 
her  name. 

"  The  presentation  of  that  rose  seemed  to  exasperate  those  of 
the  mob  who  saw  it,  and  I  am  free  to  confess  that  I  regretted 
the  action,  for  at  one  time  it  seemed  as  if  they  would  break  in 
and  seize  us.  But  the  firmness  of  the  sergeant  kept  them  back. 
I  regret  that  I  was  so  unchivalrous  as  to  soon  forget  the  name 
given,  but  in  our  circumstances  who  would  try  to  remember  a 
name,  even  that  of  a  beautiful  lady  ?  The  only  encouragement 
as  to  our  prospects  we  had  yet  received  was  that  our  fate  would 
be  a  warning  to  our  comrades  in  arms,  none  of  whom  would 
venture  to  engage  in  such  another  foolhardy  expedition.  The 
flower  served  more  to  recall  home  and  friends  than  to  awaken 
hope  of  any  availing  friendship  and  help  in  that  part  of  the 
country.  It  was  twisted  round  and  round  between  my  closely- 
cuffed  hands — for  the  cuffs  I  wore  had  no  connecting  linki,  and 


OTHER    CAl'TURES.  159 

deled  very  tight — until  one  by  one  the  leaves  all  fell  oft',  and 
when  the  last  was  gone  I  got  Wilson  to  put  the  stem  in  my 
pocket,  and  kept  it  a  long  time. 

"  We  arrived  at  Chattanooga  next  morning.  There  was  again 
the  inevitable  crowd  to  welcome  us.  '  Will  those  hounds  hunt?" 
bawled  out  a  coarse- voiced  individual,  as  they  led  us  by  our  neck- 
chains  through  the  crowded  street. 

"  The  landlord  of  the  hotel  to  which  we  were  taken  to  await 
orders  was  a  Union  man,  whom  I  have  met  since  under  very 
different  circumstances.  At  his  own  expense,  and  on  his  own 
responsibility,  he  ordered  his  servants  to  bring  us  a  good  break- 
fast. We  had  by  this  time  got  on  good  terms  with  the  clever 
guards  who  brought  us  from  Marietta,  and  parted  from  them 
with  real  regret.  They  requested  to  have  our  names  written  in 
the  little  diaries  many  of  them  carried.  Putting  the  book  in 
one  cuffed  hand  and  the  pencil  in  the  other,  they  were  amazed 
to  see  how  well  we  could  write  under  such  circumstances. 

"  The  next  scene  in  our  strange  history  was  a  terrible  contrast 
to  the  peaceful  occupation  of  eating  a  good  breakfast  and  writing 
our  names  in  diaries.  We  were  marched  to  what  our  new  con- 
ductor called  'the  hole.'  From  the  upper  room  of  a  prison  a 
ladder  was  put  down  through  a  trap-door,  and  we  were  ordered  to 
descend  into  what  I  can  only  call  hell,  for  it  was  that  to  us.  The 
ladder  drawn  up,  the  trap-door  again  fallen,  and  now  in  the  murky 
gloom  came  whispered  recognitions  from  our  comrades,  the  warm 
clasp  of  friendly  buft  ironed  hands.  Andrews  and  all  his  men 
except  two — Mark  Wood  and  Alfred  Wilson — were  now  gathered 
together." 

It  will  be  remembered  that  J.  R.  Porter  and  M.  J. 
Hawkins  were  not  on  the  captured  train  at  all,  but 
joined  Dorsey  and  his  comrades  at  Marietta.  We 
abridge  the  account  of  their  mishaps  given  by  Porter : 

"  Through  some  mistake  or  negligence  of  the  hotel  waiter  we 
were  not  called  in  time  for  the  train"  (on  the  morning  of  the 
capture),  "  though  we  got  to  the  depot  in  time  to  see  it  pass  out 
of  sight.  I  cannot  describe  my  feelings  at  that  moment.  .  .  . 
We  could  hardly  make  up  our  minds  how  to  meet  the  emergency. 

"  Then  we  leisurely  strolled  about  the  town,  expecting  every 
moment  to  hear  of  the  capture  of  the  train.  Nor  did  we  have 
to  wait  long,  for  the  news  soon  reached  town  that  a  train  had 
been  captured  at  Big  Shanty  while  the  passengers  and  crew  were 
at  breakfast,  and  that  it  was  done  so  quickly  and  easily  that  they 
could  not  imagine  who  did  the  deed  or  what  it  meant.  Soon 
everything  was  wild  with  excitement  and  the  town  was  thronged 
with  excited  rebels,  waiting  to  hear  further  developments.  .  .  . 
Hawkins  and  I  concluded  to  '  skip  out'  for  a  time.  After  reach- 


Itjy  CAPTURING  A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

ing  a  piece  of  woods  we  came  together  and  congratulated  our- 
selvoa  on  our  success  thus  far,  but  what  to  do  next  we  hardly 
knew  .  .  .  After  much  hesitation  we  determined  to  go  to  Big 
Sharfy,  or  Camp  McDonald,  as  it  was  a  rebel  camp  of  instruc- 
tion, and  join  the  rebel  army." 

Thn  was  to  put  their  heads  into  the  lion's  mouth. 
Their  best  course  would  have  been  to  have  leisurely 
worked  their  way  southward  instead  of  going  where 
the  excitement  was  highest.  But  it  is  always  easy  to 
he  wise  after  the  event. 

"  We  c-ivafl  in  sight  of  the  camp  late  in  the  day,  and  marched 
into  camp  and  reported  at  headquarters.  Here  we  found  several 
rebel  officers,  one  of  whom,  who  bore  the  marks  of  a  colonel, 
turned  his  a'tention  to  us.  After  a  short  interview,  which 
seemed  pl&iuiMa  to  him,  he  ordered  us  to  report  to  the  com- 
manding officei  of  the  Ninth  Georgia  Battalion  for  enlistment 
One  of  the  companies  not  being  full  was  called  into  line,  and  took 
n  vote  whether  or  not  we  should  be  received  into  the  company. 
The  vote  was  unanimous  in  our  favor,  and  we,  after  giving  fic- 
titious names,  were  assigned  to  a  certain  mess  for  our  suppers. 
After  supper  we  i/iado  the  acquaintance  of  several  of  our  new 
messmates,  relating  dismal  stories  of  our  treatment  by.  the 
'  Yankee'  hirelings  i.i  Kentucky,  which  made  a  good  impression 
on  our  comrades  as  tc  our  loyalty  to  the  Confederacy. 

"Everything  went  right  with  us  until  in  some  mann.n  it  leaked 
out  among  the  rebels  that  tie  Yankee  raiders,  by  mirttXe  or  ac- 
cident, had  left  two  of  Vhcir  party  at  Marietta.  How  '.his  in- 
formation got  out  I  never  leaned,  but  it  could  not  be  otherwise 
than  that  some  of  our  part}-  1-ad  indiscreetly  told  more  than  he 
ought  when  captured.  Who  tho  man  was  we  never  learnea  " 

Then  followed  the  usuaJ  questionings,  ending  in  the 
acknowledgment  by  these  two  of  their  share  in  the  en- 
terprise and  their  position  as  soldiers.  It  is  not  neces- 
sary to  suppose,  as  Porter  doe?,  that  one  of  the  tw& 
captured  on  Saturday — it  could  have  been  no  others, 
for  Porter  and  Hawkins  themselves  were  arrested  Sun- 
day morning — gave  information  of  Uvo  of  our  numb T 
being  left  behind.  Porter  and  Hawkins  told  the  same 
Kentucky  story, — even  enlarged  upon  it  to  their  rebel 
messmates,  and  this  was  enough  to  direct  suspicion  to- 
wards them.  Then  when  examined  separately  by  the 
rebels  it  was  impossible  that  they  could  avoid  becoming 


OTHER    CAPTURES.  \§\ 

entangled  in  their  stories.  After  examination  these 
two  were  committed  to  the  Marietta  jail,  where  they 
met  Dorsey  and  his  comrades,  as  narrated  above. 

The  last  one  of  these  narratives  that  our  space  will 
permit  us  to  insert  is  the  most  eventful  of  all.  Alfred 
Wilson  and  Mark  Wood  were  the  last  of  the  whole 
party  to  be  captured.  The  story  is  told  in  the  most 
graphic  manner  by  Wilson  in  his  published  account  of 
the  expedition.  I  would  gladly  give  it  in  his  own 
words  but  for  its  great  length,  and  for  the  further  fact 
that  he  gives  literally  many  of  his  conversations  with 
the  rebels,  in  which  both  parties  indulge  in  no  small 
amount  of  profanity. 

As  Wilson  ran  from  the  abandoned  engine,  of  which 
he  had  been  the  fireman,  he  heard  his  name  called,  and, 
halting  a  moment,  was  joined  by  Wood,  the  only  native 
Englishman  of  the  party,  and  from  that  time  the  two 
became  inseparable  companions.  They  gained  an  open 
field  on  a  long  slope  in  front  of  them,  but  did  not  feel 
safe  in  trying  to  cross  it,  especially  as  they  were  out  of 
breath  and  the  enemy  not  far  away.  They  fortunately 
saw  where  a  tree  had  been  cut  down,  probably  the  pre- 
ceding summer,  and  the  brush  lay  scattered  around 
with  the  dead  leaves  still  clinging  to  it.  Wilson 
adroitly  covered  Wood  with  some  of  the  brush,  making 
the  heap  so  that  it  would  not  attract  attention,  and 
then  crawled  under  beside  him.  There  they  waited 
with  revolvers  drawn,  expecting  to  be  discovered,  and 
determined,  in  that  event,  to  fight  to  the  death.  The 
rebels  came  very  near,  so  that  in  some  instances  they 
might  have  been  touched  by  the  hidden  fugitives. 
Their  peril  was  extreme,  but  the  pursuers  were  watch- 
ing the  men  at  a  distance  rather  than  looking  for  those 
at  their  feet.  Much  of  the  rebel  conversation  could  be 
overheard.  One  of  two  stalwart  pursuers,  armed  with 
muskets,  while  just  by  the  brush -heap,  cried  out, — 

"  There  goes  two  of  them  !  Come  on  ;  let's  go  for 
them !" 

/  14* 


162  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

"  Let's  get  more  help,"  responded  the  other. 

"  But  you  see  they  have  no  guns,"  urged  tne  first, 
and  they  rushed  out  of  hearing. 

These  two  poor  men  remained  in  that  one  place  a 
long  while  before  they  dared  venture  forth.  Their 
oscape  from  detection  was  little  less  than  miraculous. 
So  many  persons  had  trampled  over  the  ground  where 
they  left  the  train  that  the  dogs  could  do  nothing  at 
tracking  them,  or  their  refuge  would  soon  have  been 
discovered.  The  incessant  rain  added  very  much  to 
their  discomfort,  as  it  did  in  the  case  of  all  the  fugi- 
tives, but  helped  to  throw  the  dogs  from  the  track. 

After  dark,  however,  they  crawled  out  from  the 
brush-heap,  and  could  scarcely  walk.  After  looking 
about,  they  decided  to  take  an  opposite  course  from 
what  they  had  seen  their  comrades  take,  which  was  in 
the  main  westward  from  Chattanooga.  They  wished 
to  pass  far  to  the  eastward  of  that  town,  and  knew  that 
they  must  carefully  avoid  it. 

The  remainder  of  that  night  they  travelled  rapidly, 
and  about  daybreak  found  an  old  barn  and  hid  them- 
selves in  a  mow  of  corn-fodder,  where  they  slept  com- 
fortably until  about  one  o'clock,  when  they  were  dis- 
covered by  two  women  who  were  hunting  eggs.  The 
latter  were  greatly  frightened,  and  ran  to  the  house 
which  stood  near,  but  Wilson  and  Wood  followed,  said 
they  had  been  in  pursuit  of  the  train-robbers,  and  pre- 
ferred sleeping  in  the  barn  to  disturbing  anybody  at 
the  house.  Dinner  was  over,  but  some  corn-bread  and 
buttermilk  was  furnished.  This  was  the  first  food  since 
leaving  the  train,  and  it  was  most  acceptable.  They 
paid  for  it,  and  went  on  their  way  greatly  refreshed. 

But  they  did  not  think  it  prudent  to  go  far  before 
seeking  concealment  in  a  dense  thicket  to  await  the  ap- 
proach of  night.  A  squad  of  mounted  soldiers  went 
by  on  the  road  they  had  just  left,  apparently  search- 
ing for  some  one.  At  nightfall  they  shaped  their 
course,  as  nearly  as  they  could,  towards  the  Tennessee 


'JTHtoll    CAPTURES.  l(J,«j 

River,  east  of  Chattanooga.  They  avoided  the  roads, 
but  narrowly  escaped  running  into  a  picket.  At  dawn 
the  foot  of  the  mountains  was  reached,  and  the  wan- 
derers breathed  freer  than  in  the  open  country.  They 
witnessed  the  rising  of  the  sun,  and  were  greatly  cheered 
by  its  genial  warmth.  Sleep  and  weariness  claimed 
them  until  nearly  night,  and  with  darkness  they  started 
on  again.  •  It  was  hard  work,  feeling  the  way  over 
rocks,  climbing  precipitous  places,  and  descending  the 
steep  inclines  through  bushes  and  briers. 

On  Wednesday  morning  mountains  were  on  all  sides, 
with  no  sign  of  human  life  or  habitation.  They  took 
a  nap  in  the  warm  sun,  but  hunger  soon  roused  them. 
That  one  mea]  of  corn-bread  and  buttermilk  was  all 
the  food  they  had  eaten  since  their  start  on  Saturday. 

Thus  pressed  by  hunger,  they  resolved  to  travel  day 
as  well  as  nighty  as  in  that  lonely  region  it  was  not 
likely  they  would  be  molested.  In  the  afternoon  they 
reached  the  brow  of  a  high  mountain,  overlooking  a 
lovely  and  peopled  valley.  Almost  perishing  with 
hunger,  they  concluded  to  venture  down  and  apply  for 
food  at  a  hut  a  little  separated  from  the  rest.  A  young 
woman  appeared  at  the  door,  and,  after  hearing  their 
story,  proceeded  to  get  them  a  meal.  Wilson  asked  the 
way  to  the  next  town,  the  name  of  which  he  pretended 
he  could  not  just  speak,  but  she  helped  him  out  by 
mentioning — "  Cleveland  ?"  They  feasted  on  ham, 
eggs,  and  rye  coffee,  and  went  on  their  way  rejoicing. 

Wilson  determined  to  have  a  map  of  the  country. 
So  leaving  Wood  outside  well  hidden,  he  ventured  into 
Cleveland,  and  bought  "  Mitchell's  Geography  and 
Atlas,"  the  work,  as  he  thought,  of  his  commanding 
general !  He  returned  to  Wood,  tore  out  such  portions 
of  the  map  as  they  needed,  and  threw  the  rest  away. 
They  were  now  able  to  form  an  intelligible  plan,  though 
the  one  selected  was  full  of  peril.  Wilson  seems  to 
have  been  fond  of  the  water,  and  certainly  managed 
well  upon  it.  He  wished  to  reach  the  Tennessee  River, 


164  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

procure  a  boat  of  some  kind,  and  float  down  the  rivei 
past  Chattanooga  to  some  point  within  the  Federal  lines 

By  evening  the  travellers  had  reached  the  limits  of 
that  mountain  ridge,  and  came  down  again  into  the 
valley.  Another  secluded  log  house  induced  them  to 
apply  for  food  without  waiting  till  they  were  on  the 
verge  of  starvation.  Here  they  were  very  fortunate. 
Only  a  noble-looking  lady  was  at  home  at  first.  She 
heard  their  story,  but  made  up  her  mind  that  they  were 
Union  men,  and  in  that  belief  gave  them  the  best  fare 
she  had,  and  would  accept  no  pay  for  it.  She  and  her 
husband,  who  afterwards  came  in,  gave  them  all  the 
information  in  their  power  as  to  the  best  way  of  avoid- 
ing the  rebel  cavalry  in  the  neighborhood,  and  asked 
no  confidence  in  return. 

But  misfortunes  were  before  them.  They  now  passed 
through  a  thickly-peopled  valley,  observing  the  great- 
est caution.  Notwithstanding  their  vigilance  they  were 
suddenly  halted  by  Colonel  Snow's  cavalry, — a  com- 
pany of  rebel  home-guards,  whose  principal  business  it 
was  to  keep  down  the  Union  men  of  the  vicinity.  By 
shrewd  diplomacy  they  succeeded  in  making  the  cap- 
tain believe  that  they  belonged  to  the  neighboring  town 
of  Harrison.  While  accepting  this  statement  he  in- 
sisted that  they  were  trying  to  run  away  to  the  Union 
army,  but  agreed  that  they  might  return  to  their  homes 
if  they  would  first  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the 
Confederacy,  and  then  be  ready  to  join  his  company 
when  he  called  for  their  services.  The  oath  was  a  bit- 
ter pill,  but  they  swallowed  it,  and  were  set  at  liberty. 

They  might  now  have  taken  a  very  safe  course  up  the 
line  of  the  Cumberland  Mountains  into  Kentucky,  but 
Wilson's  mind  was  fixed  upon  getting  a  boat  and  going 
down  the  Tennessee,  which  was  almost  in  the  opposite 
direction.  Their  thoughts  recurred  to  the  Union  family 
where  they  had  been  fed  the  evening  before,  and  they 
resolved  to  return  thither,  and,  revealing  their  true  char- 
acter, try  to  get  help  in  crossing  the  valley  to  the  riv^r. 


OTHER    CAPTURES.  165 

As  was  safest,  they  came  up  to  the  hut  in  the  night. 
The  man  admitted  Wilson,  while  the  woman  stood  with 
a  rifle  cocked,  to  kill  him  if  he  proved  to  be  an  enemy. 
Wood  had  been  left  at  some  little  distance  outside,  so 
as  to  excite  less  alarm.  Having  been  sworn  themselves 
that  day  they  were  in  the  mood  for  continuing  that  busi- 
ness, and  therefore  swore  the  man  to  be  true  to  thorn. 
He  kept  his  oath  far  better  than  they  did  theirs.  He 
told  them  they  must  not  be  seen  about  his  house,  and 
led  them  to  an  abandoned  hut,  which  stood  in  a  secluded 
spot  on  a  remote  part  of  his  farm.  He  then  furnished 
them  with  a  bundle  of  quilts,  and  told  them  to  stay  in 
the  cellar  and  be  perfectly  quiet,  assuring  them  that 
they  would  be  safe  until  he  could  get  a  chance  to  pilot 
them  out  of  the  neighborhood.  He  and  his  wife  sup- 
plied them  with  provisions  while  they  remained  here, 
which  was  for  several  days.  Two  or  three  reasons  led 
to  this  delay.  Rest  was  sorely  needed  after  the  fatigue 
endured  in  mountain  travel,  Snow's  cavalry  were  still 
in  the  neighborhood,  and  they  waited  also  for  a  dark 
night  and  a  trusty  guide  to  take  them  to  the  river. 

The  latter  was  found  in  the  brother  of  the  loyal 
woman  whose  guests  they  were.  This  man  took  them 
without  difficulty,  by  a  circuitous  route,  in  the  night- 
time, to  a  tributary  of  the  Tennessee,  by  following 
which  they  could  not  fail  to  reach  the  main  stream. 

The  reason  Wilson  gives  for  his  strong  desire  to 
travel  by  water  is  quite  cogent.  In  the  uneven  moun- 
tainous country  it  was  next  to  impossible  to  keep  a 
direct  course  in  night  travel,  even  if  they  knew  the 
general  direction,  while  the  stream  would  always  keep 
them  in  the  right  way.  Had  they  asked  for  guidance 
by  their  Union  friends  in  the  direction  of  Kentucky, 
however,  they  would  have  received  it. 

They  soon  saw  a  boat  on  the  other  side  of  the  river, 
but,  as  the  creek  was  swollen  and  encumbered  with  drift- 
wood, they  could  not  swim  across.  Wilson,  who  always 
took  the  lead,  left  his  companion  to  conceal  himself, 


166  CAPTURING   A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

and,  going  !x)ldly  to  the  bank,  halloed  until  a  man 
answered,  who,  at  his  request,  ferried  him  across.  As 
the  ferryman  could  not  change  a  five-dollar  note,  Wil- 
son promised  to  return  that  way  in  the  evening — it 
was  then  morning — and  make  it  right.  He  hid  during 
the  day,  and  came  back  after  dark,  and,  in  the  absence 
of  the  owner,  "  borrowed"  the  boat,  took  Wood  aboard, 
and  was  soon  far  away  towards  the  Tennessee.  The 
theft  of  the  boat  stands  on  the  same  grounds  as  to  jus- 
tification with  the  numerous  falsehoods  told  by  all  the 
adventurers, — a  military  necessity. 

At  the  mouth  of  the  creek  they  found  a  patrol-boat 
anchored  nearly  across  the  stream,  but,  as  it  was  pitch- 
dark  and  raining;  they  were  not  discovered,  and,  gliding 
dose  under  her  stern,  were  soon  afloat  on  the  swift  cur- 
rent of  the  Tennessee.  They  rejoiced  in  this,  but  found 
that  their  perils  were  not  yet  over.  The  incessant  rain 
was  very  chilling,  and  blinded  their  eyes,  the  wind  blew 
almost  a  gale,  and  the  current  whirled  them  on  with 
dangerous  speed.  They  were  in  constant  apprehension, 
for  they  could  see  but  a  little  way  before  them,  and 
scarcely  knew  where  they  were  going.  Many  times 
they  very  narrowly  escaped  wreck.  Few  things  in  the 
whole  history  of  the  railroad  adventure  are  more  ro- 
mantic than  the  picture  of  these  two  men  piloting  a 
frail,  stolen  skiff  down  the  mountain  river  during  a 
night  of  rain  and  storm. 

Their  motion  was  so  rapid  that  they  feared  dawn 
might  find  them  in  the  vicinity  of  Chattanooga,  by 
which  town  it  was  necessary  for  them  to  pass.  There- 
fore they  began,  in  good  time,  to  cast  about  for  a  safe 
landing  and  hioling-place.  After  many  ineffectual  at- 
tempts, they  found  a  small  island,  hugged  close  to  the 
shore,  and  reached  the  lower  end,  where  they  were  out 
of  the  current,  pulled  themselves  under  the  overhang- 
ing branches,  and  drew  the  boat  on  shore. 

Their  position  was  still  one  of  extreme  discomfort. 
The  rain  had  changed  to  sleet  and  hail,  and  all  effort 


OTHER   VAl-TlliES.  167 

to  get  warm  or  dry  was  in  vain.  Daylight  revealed  a 
small  cabin  on  the  shore  near  1)}',  from  which  the  smoke 
curled  up  invitingly.  Their  suffering  was  unendurable, 
and  they  decided  to  seek  shelter. 

They  launched  and  crossed.  Poor  Wood,  who  after- 
wards rJiecl  of  "oiisuinption,  brougnt  on  oy  exposure, 
and  who  was  now  almost  frozen,  said,  "Alf,  you  will 
have  to  make  up  some  lie  to  tell  them.  They  will  a.-k 
us  a  thousand  questions." 

Wilson  answered,  "I  don't  know  what  I  can  U'i 
them.  I  am  too  cold  to  speak  the  truth,  though." 

The  usual  Kentucky  story  was  modified  to  suit  their 
surroundings.  They  asked  for  boats,  and  professed  to 
be  sent  out  to  destroy  all  on  the  river,  except  where 
they  were  in  the  hands  of  trustworthy  men,  with  the 
object  of  preventing  Union  men  running  away  from 
the  conscription.  This  was  plausible,  and  they  were 
warmed,  dried,  and  fed. 

They  now  ran  down  a  short  distance  in  the  daytime, 
tied  up,  and  hid  in  a  field.  A  man  and  boy  saw  their 
boat,  and  were  about  to  take  it,  when  the  adventurers, 
unwilling  to  be  done  by  as  they  had  done,  and  confi- 
dent in  their  story,  came  out  and  stopped  the  proceed- 
ing. They  asserted  that  it  was  a  government  boat,  and 
that  they  belonged  to  a  regiment  in  Chattanooga,  which 
place  they  learned  was  only  five  miles  away.  The  man 
invited  them  to  his  house  to  wait  the  lulling  of  the 
storm.  They  accepted,  and  after  nightfall  pushed  of!' 
again,  passing  Chattanooga,  which  they  had  so  long 
dreaded,  in  safety.  They  were  now  almost  jubilant, 
but  soon  found  that  everything  was  not  smooth  sailing. 
I  presume  the  storm,  which  had  been  so  disagreeable, 
had  also  been  a  shelter,  and  that  without  it  they  mighl 
not  have  got  by  the  rebel  headquarters  so  easily. 

There  is  a  deep  gorge  a  few  miles  below  the  city, 
where  the  mountains  rise  abruptly  from  the  water  in 
frowning  grand-eur.  The  river  is  greatly  narrowed, 
and,  suddenly  bending  to  the  left,  dashes  its  furi«'ii" 


168  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

current  against  a  wall  of  rock,  and  forms  a  foaming 
eddy.  Our  two  navigators  "  perceived  even  in  the 
darkness  that  there  was  danger  ahead.  The  great  roar 
and  noise  caused  by  the  dashing  of  the  angry  waters 
against  the  rocks  warned  us.  We  hugged  the  left  hand 
with  our  little  boat  as  closely  as  possible.  As  we  passed 
the  angry  whirlpool,  into  which  we  seemed  to  be  drift- 
ing, our  boat  was  struck  a  tremendous  blow  by  a  float- 
ing log.  We  thought  we  were  all  dashed  to  pieces. 
The  blow  hoisted  us  away,  however,  several  yards  to 
the  left,  and  we  went  flying  down  the  gorge  like  the 
wind.  We  were  afterwards  told  that  a  number  of  ad- 
venturous persons  had,  at  different  times,  lost  their 
lives  in  trying  to  run  down  this  place  by  getting 
swamped  in  this  great  torrent  or  whirlpool,  and  it  was 
no  doubt  owing  to  the  blow  we  received  from'  the  float- 
ing log,  by  which  our  boat  was  knocked  just  beyond 
the  reach  of  danger,  that  we  escaped  as  fortunately  as 
we  did.  It  was  a  providential  blow  for  us,  though  it 
had  well  nigh  crushed  our  boat.  \Ve  pulled  at  our 
paddles  with  might  and  main  to  keep  the  water  from 
swamping  our  boat,  which  sank  pretty  low  in  the  cur- 
rent and  was  now  going  at  railroad  speed.  We  soon 
reached  smoother  water,  and  again  felt  ourselves  safe." 

A  man  on  the  bank  warned  them  not  to  try  to  run 
through  the  "suck,"  a  worse  place  than  that  which 
they  had  just  p:issed.  With  much  urging,  and  the 
promise  of  three  dollars  reward,  they  got  him  to  agree 
to  pilot  them  through,  lie  was  a  skilful  boatman, 
and  took  them  in  safety,  though  their  boat  was  nearly 
filled  with  water. 

Because  of  these  dangers  they  had  been  running  in 
daylight.  They  were  soon  hailed  by  a  squad  of  rebel 
cavalry,  but,  being  well  over  on  the  opposite  side,  rowed 
on  without  seeming  to  notice  them.  They  were  now 
coining  to  the  most  dangerous  part  of  their  journey, — 
that  near  the  Federal  lines,  where  the  vigilance  of  the 
enemy  was  most  constantly  exercised.  They  therefore 


OTHER    CAPTURES.  169 

resolved  to  travel  only  at  night,  hiding  themselves  and 
their  precious  boat  by  day.  That  night  they  passed 
Bridgeport,  where  they  expected  to  meet  Mitchel,  but 
found  he  had  not  yet  arrived. 

When  they  sought  a  solitary  cabin  to  get  food  the 
next  day  they  heard  great  news, — that  the  Yankees 
were  in  the  town  of  Stevenson.  This  was  confirmed 
by  numerous  fugitives  who  were  seeking  safety  from 
die  dreaded  enemy.  They  got  back  to  their  canoe, 
rowed  down  the  river  until  they  judged  themselves 
opposite  StevensoL,  and  then  started  across  the  country 
to  find  their  friends.  The  good  news  elated  them  so 
much  that  they  made  the  fatal  mistake  of  not  waiting 
for  nightfall.  Consequently  they  found  themselves  in 
the  town  sooner  than  they  expected,  and  then  to  their 
dismay  discovered  that  the  streets  were  swarming  with 
rebel  soldiers !  The  story  of  the  frightened  fugitives 
had  entrapped  them. 

But  they  put  the  best  possible  face  on  the  matter. 
Buying  a  few  articles  in  a  store,  they  attempted  to 
stroll  leisurely  out,  but  were  stopped  by  an  officer  on 
guard  and  questioned.  They  answered  plausibly, — 
probably  with  the  Kentucky  story,  as  they  were  now 
away  from  the  river, — and  were  about  to  be  released, 
when  a  man  brought  a  false  accusation.  He  recognized 
Wilson  as  being  one  of  the  Federal  cavalry  that  charged 
into  the  town  the  previous  night,  and  dared  him  to 
deny  it!  He  did  deny  it,  but  in  vain,  and  having 
been  believed  so  often  when  telling  falsehoods,  it  was 
only  a  fair  compensation  that  he  now  told  the  truth  to 
unbelieving  ears. 

Wilson  and  Wood  were  put  on  a  hand-car  and  run 
back  to  Bridgeport.  At  this  place  an  excited  member 
of  the  crowd  that  gathered  around  them  declared  that 
he  knew  them  both, — that  he  had  seen  them  on  the 
train  with  Andrews!  Wilson  always  thought  this 
man  as  much  mistaken  as  his  last  accuser,  but  denial 
was  no  more  availing  than  in  that  case.  They  were 
H  16 


^70  CAl'TUtlXU   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

taken  before  General  Leadbetter,  questioned  separately, 
as  usual  iu  the  captures,  Wood  "  perspiring  UKC  a  man 
in  a  July  harvest,"  and  both  virtually  convicted,  al- 
though Wilson  answered  the  questions  addressed  to 
him  in  the  most  undaunted  manner.  Tbry  were  taken 
to  Chattanooga,  fastened  together  with  a  chain  around 
their  necks,  and  handcuffed,  as  the  otners  had  been, 
and  ordered  to  the  hole.  When  they  descended  the 
ladder  and  joined  our  miserable  company  there  assem- 
bled, they  heard  some  plaintive  voice  say  in  tiit  dark- 
ness, to  which  their  eyes  had  not  yet  become  accustomed, 
"  Wilson  and  Wood  !  They  have  got  every  one  of  us !" 
It  was  true.  Every  one  of  the  bold  band  had  been 
captured  and  were  gathered  into  one  of  the  vilest  dun- 
geons ever  used  by  man  to  torture  his  fellow-man! 


CHAPTER  X. 

A    HORRIBLE   PRISON. 

A  PLAIN  picture  of  the  Chattan</. -ga  prison  into 
which  the  members  of  the  railroad  party  were  thrust 
cannot  be  given  in  all  its  detail  without  shocking  the 
sensitive  reader.  Even  when  the  coarser  features  are 
omitted  enough  will  remain  to  task  credulity.  The 
book  and  newspaper  accounts  published  by  the  sur- 
vivors are  not,  however,  the  only  evidence  upon  which 
the  extraordinary  story  rests.  In  the  Appendix  the 
official  report  is  given,  based  upon  sworn  testimony, 
and  to  this  any  one  who  may  be  disposed  to  doubt  this 
narrative  is  referred. 

Yet  I  would  not  hold  the  Southern  people  or  even 
the  Confederate  government  wholly  responsible  for  the 
barbarous  and  outrageous  treatment  experienced  at  thif- 
place.  The  system  of  slavery  is  primarily  responsible, 


A    HORRIBLE   PRISON.  17] 

for  it  provided  such  dens  as  the  negro  prison  at  Chat- 
tanooga. An  intemperate  man  of  Northern  birth — 
General  Leadbetter — found  that  the  fortunes  of  war 
had  placed  a  score  of  men,  one  after  another,  in  his 
hands,  and,  feeling  that  they  deserved  severe  treatment 
for  the  daring  character  of  their  enterprise,  he  reck- 
lessly ordered  them,  as  fast  as  they  were  brought  before 
him,  to  be  committed  to  "the  hole"  without  stopping 
to  consider  what  accommodations  it  afforded.  His 
subordinates,  afraid  of  being  themselves  suspected  of 
disloyalty  if  they  showed  sympathy  with  the  prisoners, 
offered  no  remonstrance,  and  the  result  was  suffering 
almost  too  fearful  for  belief. 

The  captain,  to  whose  charge  I  had  been  committed 
by  General  Leadbetter  at  the  close  of  my  examination, 
called  a  guard  of  eight  men  and  conducted  me  through 
the  streets  to  the  northern  part  of  the  town.  We 
halted  before  a  little  brick  building  surrounded  by  a 
high  board  fence, — the  negro  prison  of  Chattanooga, 
known  as  "  the  hole."  A  portion  of  the  building  was 
occupied  by  the  jailer.  The  prison  part  consisted  of 
two  rooms,  one  directly  under  the  other,  and  also  partly 
underground.  The  upper  room  was  accessible  only  by 
an  outside  staircase,  and  the  lower  had  no  entrance  ex- 
cept from  a  trap-door  directly  overhead. 

The  jailer,  whose  name  was  Swims,  met  us  at  the 
outer  gate.  He  was  a  poor,  ignorant  creature, — a  bad 
specimen  of  the  "poor  white"  of  the  South,  and  had 
all  his  life  been  engaged  in  the  lowest  employments. 
He  was  old, — perhaps  sixty, — and  had  abundant  hair, 
which  was  very  white,  while  his  face  was  dry  and 
withered.  His  voice  was  always  keyed  on  a  whining 
tone,  except  when  some  great  cause,  such  as  a  request 
of  prisoners  for  an  extra  bucket  of  water,  excited  him, 
and  then  it  rose  to  a  hoarse  scream.  Avarice  was  his 
predominant  characteristic.  He  seemed  to  think  that 
his  accommodations  were  vastly  too  good  for  negroes 
and  Yankees,  and  that  when  they  were  admitted  to  hb» 


172  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMUIU'K. 

precincts,  they  should  be  thankful  and  give  as  little 
trouble  as  possible.  Such  a  man  was  able  to  greatly 
aggravate  the  hard  lot  of  the  unfortunate  prisoners 
in  his  care.  It  should  also  be  stated  that  he  was  very 
fond  of  a  dram,  and  frequently  became  sufficiently  in- 
toxicated to  reveal  many  important  matters  that  would 
otherwise  have  been  concealed. 

Swims  bustled  up  to  the  gate,  growling  about  being 
troubled  so  much,  unlocked  It,  and,  admitting  us,  led 
the  way  up  the  outside  stairway  into  the  outer  room. 
I  then  thought  I  understood  why  the  general  called  the 
place  "  the  hole."  This  room  was  only  thirteen  feet 
square,  and  entirely  destitute  of  chairs,  beds,  or  any 
conveniences  whatever.  Five  or  six  old,  miserable- 
looking  men  were  in  it,  who  appeared  not  to  have  been 
washed  for  months.  I  shuddered  at  the  thought  of 
taking  up  my  abode  in  such  a  den.  But  I  was  not  to 
be  allowed  that  luxury. 

Said  the  jailer  to  the  captain,  "  Where  shall  I  put 
him?" 

"  Below,  of  course,"  replied  the  captain. 

The  jailer  advanced  to  the  middle  of  the  room,  and, 
taking  a  large  key  from  his  pocket,  knelt  down  and 
unlocked  two  rusty  locks;  then,  with  a  great  effort, 
raised  a  ponderous  trap-door  just  at  my  feet.  The  hot 
air  and  the  stifling  stench  that  rushed  up  from  below 
drove  me  back  a  few  steps ;  but  the  bayonets  of  the 
guards  were  just  behind,  and  I  was  compelled  to  move 
forward  again.  A  long  ladder  was  thrust  down  through 
the  trap-door,  and  the  warning  given  those  below  to 
stand  from  under.  A  mingled  volley  of  cries,  oaths, 
and  remonstrances  ascended,  but  the  ladder  was  secured, 
and  I  was  ordered  to  descend,  ironed  as  I  was.  The 
long  chain  and  the  ropes  had  been  taken  off,  but  the 
handcuffs  remained.  I  did  not  like  to  go  down  that 
ladder  into  the  gloom  below,  but  there  was  no  alterna- 
tive. The  darkness  hid  every  object  from  view,  but  I 
clambered  down  step  by  step  to  a  depth  of  fully  thir- 


A    HORRIBLE  PRISON.  173 

teen  feet, — for  the  place,  as  I  afterwards  learned  when 
I  had  more  leisure  for  observation,  was  of  cubic  form, 
just  thirteen  feet  in  length,  breadth,  and  height.  I 
stepped  off  the  ladder,  treading  on  human  beings  I 
nould  not  discern,  and  crowded  in  as  best  I  could. 

The  heat  was  so  great  that  the  perspiration  started 
from  every  pore.  The  fetid  air  made  me,  for  a  time, 
deadly  sick,  and  I  wondered  if  it  could  be  possible  that 
they  would  leave  human  beings  in  this  fearful  place  to 
perish.  The  thought  of  the  Black  Hole  of  Calcutta 
rose  instantly  before  me.  I  did  not  think  life  could  be 
sustained  in  such  a  place  for  many  hours.  But  I  was 
yet  to  learn  the  wonderful  possibilities  of  human  en- 
durance. 

My  breath  came  thick  and  heavy,  and  I  expected 
suffocation.  The  ladder  was  drawn  up,  and  with  a  dull 
and  heavy  thud  that  seemed  to  strike  my  heart  the 
trap-door  fell.  It  was  like  being  closed  alive  in  the 
grave !  I  wedged  and  forced  my  way  through  the 
throng  to  the  window.  The  one  I  reached  was  just 
beneath  the  wooden,  outside  stairway,  and  even  at  noon 
gave  very  little  light.  The  only  other  window  was  at 
the  opposite  side  of  the  room  and  below  the  level  of 
the  ground.  They  were  only  holes  in  the  thick  walls, 
a  foot  square,  and  filled  with  a  triple  row  of  thick-set 
iron  bars  that  almost  excluded  every  current  of  air.  I 
got  my  face  near  the  bars  and  breathed  the  purest  air  I 
could  get,  until  the  horrible  sense  of  suffocation  dimin- 
ished as  I  became  partially  accustomed  to  these  fearful 
surroundings,  and  then  turned  to  ascertain  the  condi- 
tion of  my  prison  companions.  It  was  wretched  be- 
yond description.  They  were  ragged,  dirty,  and  crawl- 
ing with  vermin.  Most  of  them  were  nearly  naked ; 
but  the  air  was  so  stifliugly  warm  that  those  who  had 
clothing  had  removed  all  they  could.  I  soon  found 
it  necessary  myself  to  disrobe,  as  far  as  my  handcuffs 
permitted,  and  even  then  the  perspiration  was  most 
profuse.  It  was  an  atmosphere  of  death. 

16* 


174  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

I  was  the  first  one  of  the  "  engine  thieves"  put  into 
this  horrible  place,  though  several  had  been  captured 
earlier.  When  I  entered  there  were  fourteen  other 
white  prisoners  and  one  negro — sixteen  in  all — crowded 
into  a  room  thirteen  feet  square.  My  dungeon  partners 
were  East  Tennessee  Union  men.  In  how  many  other 
prisons  these  hapless  victims  to  their  own  loyalty  were 
immured  I  cannot  tell ;  I  found  some  of  them  in  every 
prison  of  which  I  became  an  inmate,  in  Virginia  and 
Georgia  as  well  as  Tennessee.  The  negro  had  been 
arrested  on  suspicion  of  being  a  fugitive,  and  treated  in 
the  manner  usual  in  such  cases.  No  trial  was  granted. 
A  suspected  fugitive  was  simply  arrested  and  severely 
flogged.  This  usually  brought  some  kind  of  a  confes- 
sion, true  or  false,  as  the  only  way  to  stop  the  torture. 
He  was  then  committed  to  prison  and  ad  vertised  in  ac- 
cordance with  his  confession.  If  no  answer  came  in  a 
specified  time,  he  was  taken  out  and  flogged  into  a  new 
confession  and  re-advertised.  Thus  whipping  and  ad- 
vertising continued  until  the  close  of  the  year,  when  he 
was  sold  at  auction  to  pay  jail  and  whipping  fees.  If 
he  was  a  slave,  his  master  could  take  him  out  earlier; 
but  a  free  negro  had  no  prospect  but  the  year  of  torture 
and  afterwards  perpetual  bondage  !  Can  we  too  often 
thank  God  that  the  whole  awful  system  of  slavery  lias 
been  swept  away  ?  Poor  Aleck  had  been  in  this  horrible 
prison  seven  months,  with  no  prospect  but  that  of  re- 
maining five  more  and  then  being  sold.  He  was  so 
kind  and  accommodating  that  he  became  a  general 
favorite,  and  when  he  was  taken  out  to  be  whipped  we 
could  not  help  feeling  the  deepest  sympathy. 

Every  society  has  its  aristocracy,  and  I  soon  found 
that  here  the  highest  rank  was  accorded  to  those  who 
were  charged  witn  having  done  most  against  the  Con- 
federacy. There  was  one  blind  man,  charged  with 
being  a  spy,  and  he  was  considered  much  above  the 
ordinary  Union  men.  The  rebels  thought  he  was 
counterfeiting  blindness,  but  I  believe  it  was  real.  I 


A    HORRIBLE  PRISON.  175 

was  charged  with  the  greatest  oifenci  of  any  yet  con- 
fined in  thut  dungeon,  and  was,  of  course,  treated  with 
becoming  deference. 

About  an  hour  later  the  trap-door  again  opened, 
causing  a  stream  of  comparatively  cool  air  from  above 
to  rush  down.  It  was  an  inconceivable  relief, — a  luxury 
that  none  could  appreciate  who  had  not,  like  us,  been 
deprived  of  God's  greatest  physical  blessing — pure  air. 

We  wondered  who  was  coming  next,  as  the  feeble 
glimmering  of  a  candle  above  revealed  several  forms 
descending.  The  Tennesseeans  cried  out,  "  Don't  put 
any  more  down  here !  We're  full !  We'll  die  if  more 
are  put  down  here  !"  But  these  remonstrances,  reason- 
able as  they  were,  produced  no  effect.  Down  they 
came,  and  I,  stationing  myself  at  the  foot  of  the  ladder, 
spoke  something  indifferently  to  them,  and  heard  my 
own  name  called  in  return.  There  was  a  warm  clasp 
of  ironed  hands,  and  I  knew  that  I  had  true  comrades 
in  our  common  misery.  It  was  Andrews,  Wollam,  and 
Ross.  Strangely  mingled  feeli ngs  swept  over  my  bosom. 
I  was  sorry  that  they  had  come  to  this  terrible  place, 
yet  glad  of  their  companionship.  We  got  into  a  corner 
by  ourselves,  for  we  did  not  know  but  a  spy  might  be 
waiting  to  catch  our  words,  and  cautiously  spoke  of  our 
past  adventures,  and  strove  to  form  some  plans  for  the 
future.  The  trap-door  was  soon  closed,  and  the  free 
air,  which  had  seemed  to  flow  to  us  in  sympathy,  was 
once  more  shut  out. 

Others  of  our  band  were  brought,  I  do  not  remem- 
ber whether  the  same  evening  or  the  next  morning,  and 
we  wondered  what  had  become  of  those  who  were  still 
absent.  But  they  continued  to  arrive  by  twos  and  threes 
until  all  had  met  in  this  doleful  place  of  assemblage. 
The  whole  number  was  twenty-two,  and  as  fast  as  they 
came  the  Tennesseeans  with  us  were  removed  into  the 
room  above,  and  we  had  the  foul  den  all  to  ourselves. 
This  allowed  the  advantage  of  talking  freely  without 
fear  of  '  etrayal. 


176  CAPTURING  A  LOCOMOTIVE. 

We  had  great  difficulty  in  arranging  ourselves  for 
sleep,  on  account  of  the  smallness  of  the  room.  An  easy 
calculation  will  show  how  closely  we  were  packed.  A 
small  corner  was  necessarily  reserved  for  the  water-  and 
slop-buckets.  Then  two  rows,  with  ten  in  each  row, 
left  two  over,  who  had  to  be  disposed  of  somehow. 
We  did  the  best  we  could.  Some  sat  against  the  wall, 
while  others  leaned  against  the  breasts  of  those  who 
were  thus  supported.  Every  motion  caused  the  most 
dismal  clanking  of  chains,  for  the  chains  were  not  re- 
moved even  in  such  a  dungeon.  After  we  had  been 
packed  away  for  the  night,  if  any  one  wanted  to  move 
his  position,  or  go  for  a  drink,  he  was  sure  to  tread  on 
some  of  his  neighbors,  and,  tempers  being  naturally 
very  short  here,  some  warm  altercations  took  place, 
which  contributed  still  more  to  disturb  our  slumbers. 
A  fight  in  the  darkness  with  manacled  hands  was  sev- 
eral times  prevented  with  great  difficulty  by  those  of  us 
who  were  more  pacifically  disposed. 

A  few  of  us,  who  were  more  fortunate,  had  no  chains 
around  our  necks,  but  only  wore  handcuffs.  I  was 
strongly  attached  to  William  Reddick,  one  of  a  pair  of 
handcuffs  being  placed  on  my  left  hand  and  the  other 
on  his  right.  In  two  instances  three  persons  were  fas- 
tened to  one  chain,  which  passed  around  the  necks  of 
each.  William  Campbell,  a  man  of  immense  strength, 
was  a  member  of  one  trio.  I  have  seen  him  several 
times  take  hold  of  the  chain  near  his  own  neck,  and 
saying,  "Come  here,  you  Yanks,"  parade  his  two  chain- 
comrades,  in  spite  of  all  their  resistance,  back  and  forth 
over  the  room. 

In  this  wretched  situation  we  slept  much.  The  great 
quantity  of  carbonic  acid  our  breathing  produced  acted 
as  an  opiate,  and  served  in  some  measure  to  stupefy  us 
and  deaden  the  sense  of  pain.  In  the  morning  we  slept 
or  dozed,  for  we  had  no  motive  to  rouse  up  until  about 
nine  o'clock.  The  next  morning  after  my  arrival  I  was 
awakened — early,  as  I  supposed — by  the  opening  of  the 


A    IIORRIKLK    /'A'/.S'O.V.  17^ 

•rap-door  and  the  delicious  shower  of  cool  air  that  fell 
upon  us.  As  I  looked  up,  there  was  the  white  head  of 
our  old  jailer  bending  over  and  saying,  in  drawling 
tones,  "  Boys,  here's  your  breakfast,"  and  he  lowered  a 
bucket  by  a  rope,  with  a  very  small  piece  of  corn  bread 
and  a  tiny  morsel  of  meat  for  each  of  us.  It  was  seized 
and  devoured  almost  instantly.  I  had  eaten  nothing 
since  the  day  before,  and  this  pitiftd  supply  only  served 
to  whet  my  appetite.  But  there  was  no  more.  I  learned 
that  we  were  to  get  our  meals  only  twice  a  day,  and  then 
only  a  starvation  allowance.  The  quality  was  that  which 

captives'  tears 


Have  moisten 'd  many  a  thousand  years, 
Since  man  first  pent  his  fellow-men 
Like  brutes  within  tin  iron  den." 

I  suppose  our  food  in  all  our  imprisonment  was  about 
equal  as  to  quantity  and  quality  with  that  supplied  at 
Andersonville  and  other  Southern  prisons.  But  in  the 
chaining,  and  the  close  packing  in  dungeons,  probably 
no  prisoners  during  the  whole  war  fared  so  badly  as  we 
did. 

During  the  day  that  succeeded  my  arrival  in  this 
place  of  horrors  a  few  more  of  our  party  were  brought 
in,  and  among  them  was  ray  especial  friend,  George  D. 
Wilson.  I  found  that  the  same  reason  which  had  led 
to  the  acknowledgment  of  my  true  character  as  a  United 
States  soldier  had  induced  them  to  make  the  same  con- 
fession. Anxious  and  frequent  were  the  consultations 
we  held  as  to  the  best  course  for  us  now  to  pursue.  It 
was  too  late  for  absolute  denial  of  our  participation  in 
the  railroad  adventure,  even  if  that  had  ever  been  ex- 
pedient. The  only  possible  course  which  seemed  to 
offer  any  hope  was  to  continue  to  claim  the  character 
and  protection  of  soldiers  engaged  in  regular  warfare, 
and  to  this  end  answer  all  reasonable  questions  that 
might  be  asked.  But  there  were  certain  facts  we 
pledged  carselves  in  no  case  to  reveal.  Among  these 


178  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

was  the  name  of  our  engineer,  which  they  were 
eially  anxious  to  ascertain.  The  fact  of  ignorance  in 
such  a  material  matter  would  indicate  that  we  were 
merely  following  the  orders  of  those  higher  in  author- 
ity, and  would  preserve  poor  Brown,  who  had  acted  in 
that  capacity,  from  any  special  dangers.  The  fact  of 
a  previous  expedition  having  been  sent  down  into  Geor- 
gia upon  the  same  errand  as  our  own,  was  on  no  ac- 
count to  be  divulged,  as  it  was  likely  to  stimulate  our 
captors  to  inflict  sterner  punishments  by  way  of  pre- 
venting similar  attempts  in  future.  We  were  not  to 
allow  it  to  escape  that  William  Campbell  was  a  civilian 
only  and  not  an  enlisted  soldier,  as  this  would  have 
made  his  position  more  perilous  than  our  own.  We 
were  also  to  conceal  having  given  any  expressions  of 
willingness  to  engage  in  such  an  expedition,  claiming 
to  have  been  detailed  without  our  own  consent,  and  or- 
dered to  obey  the  directions  of  a  man  placed  over  us. 
The  most  vital  point  was  in  relation  to  Andrew?.  He 
had  already  admitted  being  the  leader  of  the  expedi- 
tion. We  could,  therefore,  do  him  no  good  bv  pre- 
tending not  to  know  him,  but  he  asked  that  we  should 
not  admit  having  any  knowledge  of  him  before  we 
were  put  under  his  orders;  and,  for  our  sake  as  well  as 
his,  we  resolved  to  "suppose"  that  he  was  some  regu- 
larly commissioned  officer  of  the  Federal  army.  Most 
of  us  knew  him  in  his  true  character, — that  of  a  secret 
agent  or  spy.  But  to  have  admitted  that  foot  would 
have  been  fatal  to  any  hopes  he  may  have  had,  and 
would  have  very  seriously  prejudiced  our  own  case. 
The  position  we,  therefore,  took,  in  all  our  statements, 
was  that  of  non-commissioned  officers  and  soldiers  be- 
longing to  three  Ohio  regiments,  who  had  been  de- 
tailed for  an  unknown  service,  and  ordered  to  report  to 
an  unknown  oflicer,  who  had  called  himself  Andrews, 
and  that  we  had  faithfully  and  unquestioniugly  obeyed 
such  orders  as  had  been  given  us.  We  agreed  to  urge 
that  a  flag  of  truce  should  l>e  sent  to  our  lines  to  in- 


A    HORRIBLE   PRISON.  17«j 

quire  if  we  were  not  what  we  claimed  to  be,  well  know- 
ing that,  while  General  Mitchel  would  boldly  avow  us, 
and  stretch  his  power  to  the  utmost  for  our  protection, 
he  would  be  very  careful  not  to  say  anything  to  the 
prejudice  of  our  leader. 

Our  plans  were  carried  out  to  the  letter.  No  one  of 
our  "  reserved  facts'  was  ever  known  to  the  enemy  until 
we  were  all  beyond  his  power,  and  the  flag  of  truce  was 
not  sent  only  because  the  commanding  officer  said  thai 
he  was  perfectly  satisfied  to  accept  all  our  representa- 
tions as  true.  As  others  of  our  company  were  captured 
and  joined  us,  they  gave  our  plans  their  cordial  ap- 
proval, and  in  the  separate  and  formal  examination  of 
each  one,  gave  their  names,  companies,  and  regiments. 
This  could  not  fail  to  produce  conviction  of  the  truth 
of  our  story,  and  gained  us  the  sympathy  of  all  whose 
bosoms  were  not  steeled  against  every  kindly  feeling. 
T'  ,nis  plan,  conceived  in  the  dungeon  and  consistently 
curried  nut,  I  attribute,  more  than  to  anything  else,  the 
escape  of  any  part  of  our  number. 

Though  we  did  not  now  recognize  Andrews  formally 
as  our  leader, — he  having  repeated  his  previous  decla- 
ration that  we  wore  to  rely  on  ourselves, — yet  we  com- 
municated our  plan  to  him,  and  he  gave  it  his  cordial 
approval,  saying  that  if  we  closely  adhered  to  it  we 
would  have  some  chance  for  our  lives.  No  small 
amount  of  effort  was  made  by  the  rebel  authorities  to 
induce  us  to  tell  more  than  we  did.  Their  energies 
were  bent  especially  to  finding  out  the  engineer.  They 
would  ask  the  question  in  the  most  casual  manner,  and 
a  number  of  ^imes,  when  one  man  was  taken  o~  (  alone, 
he  would  be  offered  safety  and  release  if  he  would  only 
tell  this  one  thing,  and  threatened  with  instant  death 
if  he  did  not.  But  no  one  was  moved.  The  opinion 
seemed  to  be  that  the  discovery  of  the  engineer  would 
reveal  the  whole  mystery  of  the  enterprise.  In  this 
they  w";re  mistaken,  but  the  opinion  waa,  not  unnatural. 
They  would  also  ask  in  many  forms  the  question, 


\80  CAPTURING   A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

How  came  it  that  you  would  consent  to  leave  your 
ramp  in  citizens'  clothes  for  an  enterprise  you  kuevp 
nothing  about,  and  under  the  leadership  of  a  person 
you  had  never  seen,  and  whose  rank  and  position  you 
say  you  were  ignorant  of?"  The  answer  was  always 
the  same  in  substance  :  "  We  were  told  by  our  officers 
to  follow  this  man,  and  we  considered  it  a  soldier's 
duty  to  obey."  I  had  to  pass  a  more  protracted  ex- 
amination than  any  of  the  others,  perhaps  because  I 
had  told  General  Leadtatter  so  many  of  my  inferences 
about  war  affairs  when  first  taken  before  him.  For 
two  or  three  days  I  was  even  separated  from  my  com- 
rades and  daily  questioned.  I  thus  gained  a  short  relief 
from  the  horrors  of  the  negro  prison,  and  could  easily 
have  secured  my  own  safety  by  dishonor;  but  although 
I  talked  freely,  I  did  not  go  a  single  word  beyond  the 
line  which  Wilson  and  myself,  with  the  approval  of  all 
the  others,  had  marked  out.  At  last  I  overheard  the 
acute  lawyer  who  acted  as  examiner  on  these  occasions 
say  to  General  Leadbetter,  "  It  is  no  use.  He  is  either 
ignorant  or  too  sharp  to  tell  anything."  I  felt  greatly 
complimented,  and  was  then  taken  back  to  the  horrors 
of  the  old  dungeon,  where  I  was  warmly  welcomed  by 
my  comrades,  most  of  whom  had  passed  a  similar  though 
briefer  ordeal.  It  was  on  this  occasion  that  the  officer 
of  the  guard  happened  to  lay  a  newspaper  he  was 
reading  near  me.  I  was  hungry  for  news,  and  in  a 
moment  seized  and  concealed  it  in  my  clothing.  It 
was  missed  and  a  great  search  made,  but  as  I  was  hand- 
cuffed and  looked  innocent,  suspicion  did  not  fall  on 
me.  It  was  a  great  prize,  for  it  contained  a  complete 
account  of  our  chase  as  given  by  our  pursuers.  Through 
all  our  subsequent  adventure.';  I  carefully  preserved  it, 
and  at  the  date  of  writing  it  is  still  in  my  possession. 
The  estimate  it  gives  of  the  military  importance  of 
Dtir  expedition,  and  of  what  we  actually  accomplished, 
goes  beyond  what  has  been  sketched  in  the  preceding 
pages.  (See  Appendix  No.  II.) 


A    HORRIBLE    I'RISON.  Jgl 

After  these  examinations  were  over,  the  misery  of 
our  dungeon-life  closed  about  us  again.  Whether  we 
would  be  left  there  to  perish,  or  whether  some  kind 
of  a  trial  would  be  given  us  with  the  alternatives  of 
release  or  execution, — what  was  the  position  of  the 
armies  outside,  or  the  progress  of  the  war, — we  could 
not  tell.  In  dreams  only  we  were  free.  I  remember 
lying  down  one  afternoon  and  dreaming  of  the  most 
beautiful  snow-capped  mountains  in  East  Tennessee, 
and  awakening  with  a  freshness  and  hopefulness  which 
lasted  for  many  hours.  But  even  dreams  were  not  all 
thus  pleasant ;  too  often  they  rivalled  the  prison  itself 
in  shapes  of  terror  and  pain. 

One  or  two  of  our  number  managed  to  conceal  a 
little  money  when  searched,  and,  as  our  rations  were 
very  small,  it  was  resolved  to  spend  it  for  food.  The 
jailer  agreed  to  get  us  any  provisions  we  wanted,  so 
far  as  the  money  would  go.  There  was  an  anxious 
discussion  as  to  the  most  profitable  mode  of  investment. 
Wheat  bread  and  molasses — the  latter  being  very  cheap 
— were  chosen,  and  the  precious  money  tied  to  the  rope, 
which  was  our  only  mode  of  communication  with  the 
upper  world,  and  drawn  up.  It  was  at  our  evening 
meal.  We  knew  Swims  would  not  trouble  himself  to 
bring  the  provisions  that  evening,  but  we  anticipated  a 
bountiful  breakfast,  with  the  keenness  that  only  starving 
men  could  feel.  When  the  breakfast  bucket  dangled 
at  the  end  of  the  rope  the  next  morning,  it  was  quickly 
seized,  and  lo '  only  the  usual  miserly  allowance  of 
"  jone"  and  meat.  "  Mr.  Swims,  have  you  got  the 
br«ad  and  molasses  yet?"  eagerly  demanded  a  voice 
from  below.  In  his  most  whining  tones  he  drawled 
out,  "B-o-y-s,  I  lost  that  money."  Had  he  been  on 
our  level  instead  of  thirteen  feet  above,  he  might  have 
learned  how  desperate  men  can  become  when  hungry. 
But  there  was  no  remedy.  The  captain  of  the  guard, 
when  appealed  to,  considered  it  a  good  joke  ! 

16 


182  CAPTURING    A    LOCOMOTIVE. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

LIGHTS   AND   SHADOWS   OF   PRISON. 

SOME  two  weeks  after  our  capture  Andrews  rc<*3ivt;d 
a  very  brief  trial.  The  charges  against  him  -were  two, 
— that  of  being  disloyal  to  the  Confederacy  and  of 
being  a  spy.  On  the  first  count  the  evidence  against 
him  was  strong.  A  Mr.  "Whiteman,  from  Nashville, 
Tennessee,  whom  Andrews  himself  had  directed  to  be 
summoned,  and  who  had  once  been  a  partner  of  his  in 
some  business,  testified  that  Andrews  had  repeatedly 
visited  the  South  as  a  blockade-runner,  bringing  to 
Whiteman  some  ten  thousand  dollars'  worth  of  goods  in 
that  manner,  and  that  he  had  always  professed  allegiance 
to  the  Southern  Confederacy,  representing  himself  to  be 
a  citizen  of  the  same,  and  an  enemy  to  the  United  States. 
When  captured,  he  had  passes  in  his  possession  which 
showed  that  he  had  also  taken  the  oath  of  allegiance  to 
the  Southern  government.  He  had,  at  the  same  time, 
admitted  his  part  in  the  railroad  adventure,  which  wa& 
assuredly  an  act  of  hostility  against  the  South.  In- 
deed, several  persons  were  produced  who  saw  him  on 
the  train,  or  directing  its  movements  at  some  of  the 
various  stations  during  the  chase.  So  far  as  I  could 
learn,  there  was  no  direct  evidence  produced  to  show 
that  he  was  or  ever  had  been  a  spy,  although  this  might 
be  suspected  from  his  passing  back  and  forth  across 
the  lines,  and  so  soon  after  acting  as  an  enemy.  His 
case  was  entirely  different  from  that  of  the  men  he  led, 
and  much  more  unfavorable.  They  claimed  to  have 
been  acting  all  the  while  as  enemies,  and  now  to  be 
prisoners  of  war.  They  declared,  and  were  ready  to 
prove,  their  position  in  the  Federal  army.  He  gave  no 


LIGHTS  AND  SHADOWS   OF  PRISON.          \$% 

account  whatever  of  his  position,  or  the  authority 
under  which  he  was  acting,  and  allowed  the  court-mar- 
tial to  establish  their  case  as  best  they  might.  He  was 
very  reticent,  as  was  proper,  even  among  our  band,  as 
to  his  plans  and  hopes,  but  it  was  whispered  among  us 
that  he  expected  the  liberal  use  of  money  from  an  out- 
side source  to  influence  the  court,  or  aid  in  his  escape 
if  condemned.  I  never  heard  him,  however,  intimate 
anything  of  the  kind,  and  he  certainly  received  no 
such  help  in  escaping.  He  employed  two  able  lawyers, 
and  they  strove  for  delay,  and  at  the  last  gave  him 
reason  to  hope  that  some  informalities  in  the  proceed- 
ings would  require  the  whole  trial  to  be  gone  over 
again.  No  decision,  however,  was  officially  given,  but 
he  was  put  back  in  the  same  prison,  and  no  more 
strictly  guarded  than  the  remainder  of  us,  which  was 
judged  to  be  a  favorable  indication  of  the  result. 

One  day  our  old  jailer,  being  very  drunk,  told  us 
that  General  Mitchel  had  advanced  to  Bridgeport,  only 
twenty-eight  miles  distant,  and  there  defeated  the  rebels, 
capturing  some  of  the  very  same  men  who  had  been 
our  guards  but  a  day  or  two  before.  How  we  wished 
to  have  been  with  him  !  and  how  we  hoped  for  a  further 
advance  on  his  part !  To  be  captured  with  Chattanooga 
would  be  glorious !  The  officers  of  the  guard  were 
obviously  uneasy.  They  took  the  strictest  precautions. 
There  were  twenty-six  men  constantly  on  guard, — 
surely  enough  to  watch  over  twenty-two,  confined  and 
chained  in  a  dungeon  as  we  were. 

Mitchel  came  nearer.  We  even  heard  the  boom  of 
cannon  in  the  distance,  and  his  advance  probably  saved 
our  lives,  by  taking  us  for  the  time  out  of  the  clutches 
of  Swims  and  Leadbetter,  for  a  much  longer  confine- 
ment or  rather  suffocation  there  must  have  been  fatal. 
The  ladder  was  thrust  down  and  we  were  ordered  to 
come  out.  We 'would,  then,  have  gladly  remained  in 
that  vile  den  a  little  longer,  in  the  hope  of  Mitchel's 
arrival,  but  we  crawled  up.  Our  fastenings  were  in- 


l.SJ  VAI'TL'RING    A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

spectod,  to  sec  that  none  of  us  were  in  condition  to 
make  a  sudden  dash  for  liberty;  we  were  formed  intc 
a  column,  with  a  line  of  rebel  soldiers  on  each  side,  and 
then  marched  out  through  the  gate  towards  the  cars. 
Strangely  the  free  air  fanned  our  brows  and  strangely 
the  wide  sky  bent  above  us.  Very  grateful  was  the 
sense  of  openness  and  room  in  the  streets  through  which 
we  passed,  even  although  ironed,  with  a  rebel  soldier 
on  either  hand.  For  three  whole  weeks  twenty-two 
men  had  been  cooped  up  in  a  dark  room  milch  smaller 
than  an  ordinary  parlor.  No  wonder  the  streets  of  the 
hostile  town  seemed  like  freedom  by  comparison.  We 
were  soon  seated  in  the  cars,  and  were  carried  in  the 
evening  back  southward  on  the  road  we  had  rushed 
over  under  such  thrilling  circumstances  three  weeks 
before. 

How  beautiful  all  nature  appeared!  It  was  now 
May,  and  the  time  that  we  had  spent  in  darkness  had 
not  been  lost  in  the  outside  world.  The  landscape  had 
been  robed  in  richer  verdure,  the  budding  trees  had 
swelled  into  leafy  screens,  the  sky  was  of  a  softer  blue, 
(he  birds  warbled  with  new  melody,  and  everything 
seemed  to  wear  its  holiday  dress. 

O  the  joy  !  the  gladness!  of  being  once  more  under 
the  blue  canopy  of  heaven,  and  of  looking  up  to  its 
unfathomable  depths,  with  no  envious  bars  to  obstruct 
our  view !  Many  a  time  have  I  looked  on  the  most 
romantic  scenery  in  the  freshness  of  May,  but  never 
did  I  so  deeply  feel  the  pleasantness  and  beauty  of  the 
world  as  on  that  balmy  evening,  when  the  rays  of  the 
setting  sun,  glowing  from  the  west,  streamed  over  the 
grass  and  wheat-fields  on  their  path,  and  poured  in 
mellowed,  yellow  radiance  through  the  car-windows. 
But  I  could  not  quite  forget  that  I  was  chained  to  my 
companion  and  surrounded  by  guards  with  gleaming 
bayonets ! 

The  wild  excitement  caused  by  our  raid  had  not  sub- 
sided, and  as  it  became  known  that  we  were  passing 


LIGHTS  AND   SHADOWS  OF  PRISON.         185 

along  the  road,  a  mob  greeted  us  at  every  station.  It 
is  not  necessary  to  again  describe  these  assemblages, 
for  all  were  alike, — threatening,  rude,  loquacious,  and 
insulting. 

We  also  noticed  that  soldiers  on  guard  were  at  every 
station,  and  that  each  bridge  we  passed  was  strongly 
guarded.  There  could  be  no  doubt  that  all  these  pre- 
cautions, so  different  from  the  careless  security  of  less 
than  a  month  previous,  were  among  the  tangible  results 
of  our  enterprise.  It  was  estimated  that  on  (he  various 
roads  of  the  South  not  less  than  three  thousand  troops 
had  been  diverted  from  the  field  and  employed  in  se- 
curing communications  in  all  parts  of  the  rebel  States. 
A  general  passport  system,  with  all  its  vexations,  had 
been  introduced.  Surely  our  enterprise,  though  un- 
successful in  its  immediate  results,  was  far  from  fruit- 
less. 

We  passed  Big  Shanty,  passed  Marietta,  which  had 
been  the  extreme  point  of  our  former  journey  south- 
ward, and  went  on  to  Atlanta.  Here  there  was  no  jail 
room  for  us;  but  before  going  farther  we  had  to  wait 
all  day  in  the  cars  for  the  evening  train.  Our  arrival 
was  soon  noised  abroad,  and  a  larger  mob  than  we  had 
seen  before  gathered  and  proclaimed  their  intention  of 
hanging  us.  The  guard  defended  us  manfully,  and 
several  persons  were  seriously  injured.  But  while  the 
disturbance  was  in  progress,  one  man  succeeded  in 
reaching  the  window  unnoticed  and  handed  us  a  paper, 
using  only  the  single,  magical  word,  "a  friend,"  and 
then  disappeared  in  the  throng.  We  read  the  paper  by 
snatches,  as  we  could  do  so  secretly,  and  found  it  to 
contain  glorious  news, — the  capture  of  New  Orleans ! 
Othei  items  of  news  were  adroitly  wormed  out  of  our 
guards,  who  could  not  be  kept  from  talking  with  us, 
and  we  were  full  of  hope  that  the  darkening  prospects 
of  the  Confederacy  would  brighten  our  own  outlook, 
bj  rendering  the  advocates  of  a  declining  rebellion 
more  cautious  in  their  treatment  of  loyal  soldiers.  All 

16* 


186  CAPTURING  A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

information  was  prohibited  to  us;  but  from  the  com- 
mon soldiers,  the  negroes,  and  often  from  the  officers 
of  the  guard  themselves,  we  managed  to  pick  up  items 
of  intelligence,  which  gave  us  a  general  idea  of  the 
course  of  affairs. 

In  the  evening  we  left  Atlanta,  and  after  a  journey 
not  marked  by  any  notable  event  reached  Madison,  in 
ihe  same  State.  This  was  then  a  flourishing  village, 
and  had  a  pleasing  look  as  we  entered  it.  Some  six 
hundred  imprisoned  Union  soldiers  had  been  already 
gathered  here,  and  we  freely  indulged  the  hope,  which 
was  encouraged  by  our  guards,  that  we  would  be  put 
with  them  and  henceforth  treated  only  as  prisoners  of 
war.  But  we  soon  found  that  the  brand  of  criminality 
for  our  daring  adventure  was  not  so  easily  effaced.  We 
were  marched  past  the  dilapidated  cotton-factory,  where 
our  fellow-soldiers  were  confined,  to  the  old  county  jail. 
It  was  then  entirely  unoccupied,  as  all  the  prisoners  had 
been  released  to  join  the  Confederate  army,  tt  was  a 
gloomy  stone  building,  with  two  rooms,  but  both  were 
above-ground,  and  the  lower  was  entered  by  an  ordi- 
nary door.  This  lower  room,  in  which  about  half  of 
our  party,  including  myself  and  Andrews,  were  placed, 
was  very  dark,  and  its  heavy  stone  walls  rendered  it 
quite  damp.  But  for  our  previous  experience  at  Chat- 
tanooga it  would  have  been  thought  a  wretched  place. 
It  was  so  much  better  than  that,  however,  that  r,ve  al- 
most enjoyed  it.  Indeed,  we  could  not  have  endured 
•nich  confinement  as  that  at  Chattanooga  for  many  weeks 
longer.  Several  of  our  number  could  scarcely  walk, 
and  all  were  greatly  injured  in  health  by  the  three  hor- 
rible weeks  we  had  spent  there.  Now  we  were  further 
from  the  pernicious  influence  of  General  Leadbetter, 
and,  although  we  were  still  kept  in  irons  by  his  explicit 
orders,  yet  the  captain  of  the  guard,  in  whose  direct 
charge  we  were,  showed  us  all  the  kindness  in  his 
power,  easing  the  irons  which  pressed  too  heavily  upon 
swollen  limbs,  and  procuring  us  abundance  of  good 


LIGHTS   AND   SHADOWS   OF  PRISON.          187 

water,  as  well  as  a  better  supply  of  the  coarse  food, 
which  we  ate  in  common  with  our  guard. 

The  citizens  of  the  town  were  freely  admitted  to  see 
us,  and  ranged  themselves — always  in  the  presence  of 
the  guard — 'along  one  side  of  the  room,  and  talked  of 
all  the  exciting  events  of  the  day.  We  were  now  in 
our  true  character,  and  were  not  likely  to  be  benefited  by 
concealing  our  real  sentiments.  I  used  to  greatly  enjoy 
their  surprise  and  horror  when  I  avowed  myself  an 
abolitionist,  and  told  them  that  I  had  always  been  one. 
They  had  been  talking  about  abolitionists  for  years,  but 
had  never  before  seen  a  man  who  would  admit  the  jus- 
tice of  the  charge.  The  citizens  expressed  much  admi- 
ration for  us  and  for  the  daring  of  our  expedition,  con- 
trasting the  latter  with  what  they  were  pleased  to  call  the 
cowardice  of  the  Northern  armies  in  general.  George 
D.  Wilson  one  day  earnestly  assured  them  that  we  were 
the  poorest  men  in  Mitchel's  division,  and  had  only 
been  sent  on  this  expedition  because  he  had  no  use  for  us ! 

Here  occurred  one  of  the  romantic  incidents  of  prison- 
life.  We  had  been  intensely  anxious  for  some  direct  com- 
munication with  our  own  army,  but  from  our  side  there 
was  no  means  of  effecting  it.  One  day,  however,  a 
man  dressed  in  a  rebel  uniform  came  with  the  throng 
of  visitors,  and  managed  to  talk  quite  a  while,  and,  as 
I  thought,  in  a  very  disconnected  manner,  with  An- 
drews. I  also  thought  I  noticed  an  exchange  of  signs 
between  them.  As  soon  as  he  and  the  visitors  had 
gone,  and  we  were  once  more  alone,  Andrews  told  us 
that  the  "man  was  a  spy  in  the  service  of  the  United 
States,  and  that  they  had  managed,  even  in  the  pres- 
ence of  the  guard,  and  without  exciting  the  least  sus- 
picion, to  say  all  that  was  necessary,  and  that  we  might 
be  assured  that  our  friends  on  the  other  side  of  the  lines 
would  soon  know  all  about  us.  I  was  a  little  incredu- 
lous, thinking  that  the  great  anxiety  of  our  leader  to 
communicate  with  some  one  who  was  a  Federal  spy,  as 
he  himself  had  been,  had  caused  him  to  misunderstand 


CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

this  man,  and  supposed  his  signs  recognized  when  they 
were  not. 

But  when  the  captain  of  our  guard  brought  us  supper, 
he  lingered  a  little  in  conversation,  and  remarked  that 
a  most  singular  thing  had  taken  place  that  afternoon, 
and  that  after  this  we  would  receive  no  more  visitors. 
Being  pressed  for  explanations,  he  finally  gave  them. 
I  le  said  that  the  provost-marshal  of  Madison  had  re- 
ceived information  that  one  of  Lincoln's  spies  was  in 
town,  and  had  even  been  among  our  visitors,  though, 
the  captain  said,  he  was  glad  that  the  spy  had  found  no 
opportunity  to  reveal  himself  to  us !  The  marshal  at 
once  despatched  a  squad  to  arrest  him.  They  found  the 
suspected  stranger  at  the  depot,  just  as  the  cars  were 
coming  in.  He  was  boisterously  indignant  at  his  ar- 
rest, and  told  them  that  he  had  papers  in  his  pocket 
which  would  prove  his  character  anywhere.  They  let 
go  their  hold  on  him,  so  that  he  might  produce  his 
papers.  He  lectured  them  roundly  while  pretending 
to  search  in  his  pockets,  until  he  noticed  that  the  train, 
which  was  starting,  had  attained  a  good  degree  of  head- 
way, and  then,  just  as  the  last  car  swung  by,  he  sud- 
denly flung  the  soldiers  from  him  and  jumped  aboard. 
There  was  no  telegraph  station  at  Madison,  and  no 
other  train  that  evening,  so  that  an  effective  pursuit  was 
out  of  the  question. 

The  Confederates  were  very  much  enraged,  and  our 
confinement  was  rendered  much  more  strict.  But  we 
felt  ample  compensation  in  the  hope  that  our  officers 
would  now  know  just  where  we  were,  and  be  able  to 
make  all  possible  efforts  for  our  safety.  Whether  the 
spy  surmounted  all  other  perils  and  got  safely  to  our 
lines,  we  never  heard. 

Three  days  only  did  we  remain  at  Madison, — days 
of  comparative  quiet  and  hope,  during  which  we  re- 
covered some  degree  of  our  wasted  strength,  which  was 
sadly  needed  for  future  trials.  The  rebel  authorities, 
having  become  convinfvvl  that  Chattanooga  was  not 


LIGHTS  AND   SHADOWS   OF  PRISON. 

in  present  danger  from  General  Mitch  el,  ordered  us 
back  to  that  place.  Our  destination  was  not  known  to 
us,  and  the  usual  rumors  circulated  as  to  being  now  on 
our  way  for  exchange.  To  move  from  one  prison  to 
another — an  experience  we  had  quite  frequently — was 
always  a  welcome  relief,  and  served,  in  some  measure, 
to  mitigate  the  excessive  rigor  of  our  confinement.  We 
went  back  over  the  same  road  we  came,  and  had  again 
to  run  the  gauntlet  of  insulting  and  jeering  mobs.  We 
traveled  in  rude  box-cars,  wet  and  filthy,  and  were  har- 
assed by  the  fear  of  go.ing  back  to  our  miserable  prison 
at  Chattanooga.  One  circumstance  rendered  the  journey 
more  endurable.  Captain  Laws,  who  commanded  the 
guard,  and  his  soldiers  also,  had  been  in  close  asso- 
ciation with  us  for  several  days,  and  had  become  really 
interested  in  our  welfare.  While  he  did  not  relax  any 
of  his  vigilance,  he  strove  to  make  the  hardship  of  our 
position  more  endurable,  and  showed  a  friendly  spirit 
on  every  occasion.  His  good  will  was  especially  valu- 
able when  we  reached  Chattanooga. 

The  remorseless  order  had  been  given  for  our  return 
to  the  negro  prison.  Captain  Laws  could  not  change 
this,  but  by  using  his  influence  with  Colonel  Patrick 
Cleiburne,  a  man  of  humanity,  who  occupied  the  posi- 
tion of  provost-marshal  of  Chattanooga  for  a  short 
time,  he  got  per  mission  for  us  to  remain  in  the  upper 
room  instead  of  being  forced  into  the  dungeon  below. 
This  was  a  great  relief,  for  although  we  were  equally 
crowded,  yet  the  upper  room  was  above-ground,  had 
three  windows  instead  of  two,  and  these  were  of  larger 
size.  We  had,  therefore,  a  much  better  supply  of  aii 
and  light.  We  were  very  sorry  for  the  fourteen  poor 
Tennesseeans  who  were  put  below. 

Our  enemies  displayed  a  wonderful  degree  of  caution 
in  the  manner  of  guarding  us.  Even  when  we  were 
below,  where  a  man,  if  left  alone,  could  scarcely  have 
gotten  out  without  assistance,  they  never  raised  the 
trap-door  unprotected  by  a  strong  guard.  Old  Swims 


190  CAPTURING    A    LOCOMOTIVE, 

remonstrated  against  our  being  in  the  upper  room,  and 
seemed  in  perpetual  terror.  He  fretted,  and  predicted 
that  evil  would  come  from  showing  the  Yankees  so 
much  indulgence.  Yet  the  precautions  observed  ought 
to  have  reassured  him.  Before  our  door  was  opened 
a  strong  guard  was  always  brought  up-stairs  into  the 
jailer's  room,  from  which  ours  was  entered,  and  arrayed 
in  two  lines  with  levelled  bayonets.  At  the  same  time 
the  stairway  was  guarded,  and  the  whole  jail  surrounded 
by  a  strong  force  outside  of  the  wall.  We  had  not 
yet  been  relieved  of  our  fetters, — at  least,  not  by  Con- 
federate authority. 

Colonel  Cleiburne  had  asked  permission  to  remove 
our  irons,  and  this  being  refused,  he  gave  us,  on  his 
own  responsibility,  an  inexpressibly  great  indulgence. 
For  an  hour  or  two  every  fine  afternoon  he  ordered  the 
guards  to  bring  us  out  into  the  jail-yard.  This  was 
something  to  look  forward  to  all  the  day,  and  made  our 
second  confinement  at  Chattanooga  far  less  irksome  and 
prostrating  than  the  first.  To  simply  sit  in  the  sun- 
light and  watch  the  clouds  drifting  in  the  blue  above, 
or  to  walk  back  and  forth  watching  the  lengthening 
shadows  of  the  mountains,  was  intense  enjoyment.  We 
will  never  cease  to  be  grateful  to  the  brave  Irish  soldier 
who  secured  us  these  indulgences,  which,  simple  as  they 
were,  had  not  been  expected. 

But  we  felt  that  the  wearing  of  irons  for  so  long  a 
period  was  entirely  unnecessary,  and  set  our  wits  to 
work  for  the  removal  of  such  needless  incuinbrances. 
One  of  the  party  had  managed  to  secrete  a  small  knife 
in  his  sleeve  while  being  searched,  and  with  this  he 
whittled  out  rude  keys  from  the  bones  of  the  meat 
given  us,  which  readily  unlocked  our  handcuffs.  The 
padlocks  on  the  chains  were  served  in  a  similar  manner. 
We  did  not  dare  to  let  any  one  of  the  guards  know  of 
this  expedient,  or  appear  in  public  in  our  new  liberty, 
lest  more  effectual  means  should  be  devised  of  securing 
as.  To  avoid  detection  while  thus  unchained  we  al  ways' 


LIGHTS    AND   SHADOWS   07-'   riilSOX.          ]y| 

kept  some  one  on  the  watch.  When  a  footstep  was 
heard  on  the  outside  stairway  the  signal  was  given,  and 
a  quick  rattling  of  chains  accompanied  the  adjustment 
and  relocking  of  our  bonds.  When  the  door  opened 
we  would  appear  all  properly  chained,  but  when  alone 
we  would  soon  be  free  again.  This  deception  was  con- 
tinued as  long  as  we  were  kept  in  irons. 

We  here  took  up  the  amusement  of  mock  trials. 
Andrews  had  been  tried,  and  the  remainder  of  us  ex- 
pected to  be,  either  in  a  body  or  singly.  This  may 
have  suggested  the  diversion,  which  soon  became  very 
popular.  One  of  the  company  would  be  charged  with 
some  offence,  usually  a  trifling  breach  of  our  self-im- 
posed prison  rules.  William  Campbell,  whose  immense 
personal  strength  better  enabled  him  to  enforce  his  de- 
cisions, usually  officiated  as  judge,  until  at  last  he  got 
the  name  of  "judge"  firmly  fixed  upon  him.  We  had 
ample  time  for  this  sport,  and  the  opposing  counsel 
would  make  very  long  and  learned  speeches.  So  inter- 
esting were  these  arguments,  and  so  eloquent  were  our 
appeals,  that  no  one  of  the  auditors  was  ever  known  to 
leave  the  court-room  while  they  were  in  progress !  The 
witnesses  were  very  slippery,  and  it  was  often  difficult 
to  reconcile  their  testimony.  Some  friends  of  the  pris- 
oners nearly  always  attempted  to  resist  the  laws  and 
[ire vent  the  infliction  of  penalties,  but  in  such  cases  the 
personal  weight  of  the  judge  decided  the  affair.  This 
resistance  would  give  rise  to  new  arrests  and  trials,  and 
thus  the  work  became  interminable. 

Another  and  more  refined  source  of  enjoyment  wa.- 
fbund  in  music.  There  were  several  good  singers  in 
the  party,  and  by  practising  together  they  soon  acquired 
great  proficiency.  Most  of  the  songs,  under  the  lead- 
ership of  Marion  Ross,  were  of  a  tender  and  senti- 
mental cast,  such  as  "  Nettie  Moore,"  "  Carrier  Dove," 
"  Twenty  Years  Ago,"  "  Do  they  miss  me  at  Home  ?" 
etc.  The  most  frequent  time  for  singing  was  when 
twilight  began  to  fall.  Then  all  other  occupations 


W2  CAPTURING   A  LOCOMOTIVE. 

would  be  laid  aside,  and  in  the  gathering  darkness  the 
voice  of  song  would  roll  out  as  full  and  sweet  as  if  not 
strained  through  prison-bars.  The  guards  were  very 
fond  of  our  singing,  and  frequently  groups  of  citizens 
also  would  gather  around  the  high  jail-fence  to  listen. 
Words  of  sympathy  and  kindness  for  the  "  caged  Yan- 
kees" became  more  common,  and  there  were  a  good 
many  tangible  manifestations  of  the  same  feelings. 
The  guards  who  came  in  contact  with  us, — a  consider- 
able number,  as  one  squad  replaced  another, — 'togethei 
with  many  of  their  officers  and  many  residents  of  Chat- 
tanooga, began  to  ask  why  we  were  not  treated  as  othej 
prisoners,  and  the  shameful  chains  taken  off.  I  do 
not  know  whether  this  produced  any  essential  change 
in  our  fortune.  Most  likely  it  was  the  reason  we  were 
not  brought  to  trial  in  a  town  where  we  would  have 
been  sure  of  so  much  sympathy,  but  were  arraigned  in 
a  distant  place,  and  before  officers  who  were  strangers 
to  us. 

Yet  no  friendliness  on  the  part  of  our  guards,  or 
mitigation  in  the  horrors  of  our  treatment,  put  the 
thought  of  escape  out  of  our  minds,  although  it  did 
divide  our  counsels  and  delay  an  attempt.  With  many 
others,  I  was  convinced  that  we  ought  to  make  a  bold 
push  for  liberty.  The  very  strictness  of  the  guard  was 
a  challenge  to  do  our  best  to  overcome  it.  If  there 
were  a  few  gleams  of  humanity  in  the  present  treat- 
ment, this  was  merely  because  our  captors  had  discov- 
ered us  to  be  human  beings  and  not  monsters  ;  besides, 
there  was  enough  s'.ill  in  the  vile  nature  of  our  fcv«! 
and  rigor  of  our  confinement  to  justify  the  most  des- 
perate effort  for  freedom.  If  we  tried  and  failed,  \ve 
might  lose  our  lives  in  the  attempt ;  but  this  was  a  risk 
soldiers  have  to  take  in  every  enterprise ;  if  recaptured, 
we  would  be  no  worse  off  than  we  were,  for  the  charge 
of  attempting  to  escape  could  be  no  more  deadly  than 
the  old  one  of  seizing  the  train.  But  those  who  did 
not  wish  to  make  the  attempt,  among  whom  Geonge  D 


LIGHTS   AM)   SHADOWS   OF   I'RISON.          193 

Wilson  was  foremost,  maintained  that  our  enemies 
were  growing  daily  kinder,  and  that  we  would  soon  be 
formally  placed  on  the  footing  of  prisoners  of  war;  the 
commander  of  the  guard,  Captain  Laws,  had  become 
even  intimate  with  Wilson,  and  had  assured  him  thai 
our  good  conduct  was  producing  a  profound  impression 
in  our  favor;  to  forfeit  this  now  by  a  foolhardy  attempt 
to  escape  might  turn  the  scale  against  us.  Ross  agreed 
with  Wilson.  He  was  a  Freemason,  and  some  mem- 
bers of  the  fraternity  visited  him,  and  gave  him  as- 
surances of  friendship,  together  with  some  small  sums 
of  money,  which  he  generously  used  to  procure  us  all 
a  little  greatly-needed  addition  to  our  food.  We  no 
longer  made  our  purchases  through  Swims,  but  through 
Captain  Laws,  who  did  not  lose  the  money  intrusted 
to  him. 

Finally  the  majority  decided  in  favor  of  an  attempt 
to  escape.  Two  plans  were  proposed, — the  first  by  the 
writer.  When  men  who  are  not  expecting  danger  are 
suddenly  surprised,  there  is  a  moment  when  they  are 
incapable  of  action,  and  may  be  at  the  mercy  of  a  bold 
adversary.  The  same  plan,  in  general  outline,  was 
carried  out  long  afterwards  with  the  most  brilliant  suc- 
cess. It  was  simply  to  have  our  irons  off  when  the 
guards  came  to  feed  us  in  the  evening,  and  then,  as  the 
door  opened,  to  make  a  simultaneous  rush  upon  the 
levelled  bayonets  outside,  wrest  the  muskets  from  their 
holders,  and  pour  down  the  stairs  on  the  guards  below. 
If  we  succeeded  in  reaching  the  ground  before  the 
guards  fully  realized  what  was  going  on,  a  few  mo- 
ments would  suffice  to  disarm  them,  and  then  we  could 
leave  the  prison-yard  in  a  solid  body,  run  with  all  our 
speed  to  the  ferry-boat  which  lay  on  our  side  of  the 
river,  not  far  distant.  Once  over  the  river,  armed 
with  muskets  and  bayonets,  we  would  have  been  com- 
paratively safe. 

But  Andrews  did  not  like  this  plan  for  the  same 
reason  that  made  him  so  unwilling  to  use  our  arms  in 


194  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE, 

desperate  fighting  during  the  race  on  the  train.  He 
proposed  another  plan,  which,  as  he  still  had  great  in- 
fluence with  us,  was  adopted.  His  proposition  was  that 
some  one — John  Wollam,  I  think,  was  selected  for  the 
perilous  attempt — should  conceal  himself  under  the  bed 
in  the  jailer's  room  as  we  passed  through  it  on  our  re- 
turn from  the  breathing-spell  in  the  yard,  and  remain 
there  until  all  was  quiet  at  night ;  then  come  out  and 
noiselessly  unlock  the  door;  after  this  we  could  rush 
down,  seize  the  guard,  and  proceed  as  in  bur  first  plan. 
The  time  for  this  bold  attempt  was  fixed  for  a  moon- 
less night  not  far  distant. 

There  were  two  soldiers  of  the  original  twenty-four 
detailed  for  our  enterprise  who  failed  to  reach  the  des- 
ignated rendezvous  at  Marietta.  One  was  from  the 
Twenty-first,  the  other  from  the  Second  Ohio  Regi- 
ment. They  had  been  suspected  and  compelled  to  join 
a  rebel  battery,  representing  themselves  as  brothers 
from  Kentucky.  In  the  skirmish  at  Bridgeport  the 
member  of  the  Twenty-first  found  an  opportunity  to 
run  across  the  railroad  bridge  and  join  Mitchel.  Tliis 
caused  suspicion  to  rest  on  his  supposed  brother,  who 
was  arrested,  brought  to  Chattanooga,  and  thrown  into 
the  dungeon  while  we  were  there.  There  was  some 
suspicion  that  he  might  have  belonged  to  our  party, 
but  we  refused  to  recognize  him,  and  after  confinement 
for  some  time  he  was  sent  back  to  the  battery  again, 
and  from  it,  after  many  remarkable  adventures,  suc- 
ceeded in  making  good  his  escape  to  the  Union  lines. 

There  was  at  this  time  a  great  talk  of  our  exchange, 
and  our  drooping  hopes  revived.  A  son  of  General 
Mitchel's  was  captured,  but  the  general  held  a  large 
number  of  rebel  prisoners,  and  released  one  of  them — 
a  lieutenant — on  parole,  to  propose  an  exchange.  This 
man  visited  us  and  raised  the  most  sanguine  hopes 
in  our  bosoms.  The  Confederate  officers  encouraged 
those  hopes,  but  said  we  must  first  go  through  a  mcrel  v 
formal  trial  to  prove  that  we  were  really  soldiers,  afti •• 


LIGHTS  AND  SHADOWS   OF  PRISON.          195 

which  we  would  be  included  in  the  exchange  which 
would  undoubtedly  be  made.  Wo  wanted  them  to 
refer  the  question  of  our  soldiership  to  General  Mitchel, 
but  we  have  every  reason  to  believe  that  they  not  only 
never  asked  him  anything  about  us,  but  used  all  the 
means  in  their  power  to  prevent  him  from  obtaining 
any  knowledge  of  our  situation.  The  exchange  was 
effected,  but  we  were  not  included,  and  the  lieutenant 
was  not  permitted  to  return  to  the  loyal  camp. 

These  delusive  hopes  had  served  to  delay  a  little 
longer  our  projected  escape,  but  at  last  we  resolved  to 
end  the  suspense.  The  very  day  we  had  fixed  upon 
for  the  desperate  enterprise  an  event  occurred,  which 
deranged  the  plan  in  the  most  unexpected  manner  by 
dividing  our  party.  George  D.  Wilson,  who  was  very 
sick,  was  taken  down  into  the  yard  closely  guarded. 
While  he  was  there  Captain  Laws  came  to  him,  and 
said  that  he  had  received  an  order  for  twelve  of  our 
number  to  be  taken  to  Knoxville,  to  pass  the  formal 
investigation  which  had  been  so  long  talked  about,  and 
which  was  to  fix  the  character  of  the  whole  party  as 
prisoners  of  war.  Wilson  asked  who  the  twelve  were 
to  be,  and  wished  that  he  might  be  one.  The  captain 
told  him  that  this  was  easily  arranged,  as  the  order 
called  merely  for  twelve,  without  giving  names.  He 
further  offered  Wilson  the  privilege  of  naming  eleven 
others  beside  himself  to  go,  saying  that  he  would  do 
well  to  select  the  ablest  men, — those  who  could  do 
themselves  most  credit  on  examination.  Whether  this 
was  a  mere  incident,  or  whether  it  was  a  plan  laid  to 
have  Wilson  select  the  most  prominent  men  cf  the 
party,  that  they  might  be  tried  and  put  to  death,  I 
have  never  learned.  In  the  light  of  the  subsequent 
history,  this  choice  was  a  matter  of  profound  impor- 
tance, and  my  own  opinion  is  that  the  names  were  pur- 
posely left  blank,  and  Wilson  induced  to  make  the 
choice,  with  the  view  of  his  leaving  out  the  nine  who 
might  bast  be  reserved  for  the  exercise  of  mercy  after 


196  CAPTURING    A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

the  others  were  capitally  punished.  If  this  was  the 
case,  I  cannot  persuade  myself  that  Captain  La\vs  was 
in  the  secret.  But  poor  Wilson  was  completely  mis- 
led. He  told  me  that  he  considered  that  those  who 
went  to  Knoxville  would  probably  be  exchanged  first, 
if  any  difference  was  to  be  made.  So  he  put  down  his 
own  name  first,  and  mine  next.  Then  followed  the 
other  two  who  belonged  to  our  regiment, — the  Second 
Ohio;  then  William  Campbell,  the  muscular  citizen 
of  Kentucky,  and  the  list  was  filled  out  by  the  names 
of  Wilson's  especial  friends  from  the  other  regiments. 
As  we  twelve,  who  were  to  go  to  Knoxville,  waited 
the  hour  of  starting,  a  shade  of  gloom  fell  upon  us. 
For  nearly  two  months  we  had  been  companions  in 
trials  and  privations  such  as  fall  to  the  lot  of  few  men, 
and  now  our  band  was  to  be  separated.  There  was  no 
certainty  of  reunion ;  for,  in  spite  of  fair  words,  the 
fact  remained  that  we  were  in  the  power  of  desperate 
and  deadly  foes,  who  would  not  hesitate  a  moment  in 
taking  our  lives,  if  they  saw  it  for  their  own  advantage 
to  do  so. 

The  parting  with  Andrews,  our  noble  leader,  was 
especially  affecting.  We  had  been  accustomed  to  ask 
his  advice  in  all  emergencies.  He  had  been  already 
tried  by  court-martial,  and,  although  no  sentence  had 
been  given,  the  long  delay  was  not  a  favorable  omen. 
We  knew  that  he  was  the  first  mark  for  the  vengeance 
of  the  foe.  Officers  and  visitors,  in  bidding  us  hope, 
had  no  words  of  comfort  for  him.  He  bore  this  like 
a  hero,  as  he  was,  and  continued  to  hope  for  some  de- 
liverance. But  now,  after  we  had  sung  our  songs  to- 
gether for  the  last  time,  and  came  to  bid  him  farewell, 
\ve  were  all  moved  to  weeping.  I  will  never  forget  nis 
last  words,  as  he  pressed  our  hands,  with  tears  in  his 
eyes,  and  said,  in  a  low,  sad  voice  that  thrilled  through 
my  inmost  being,  "  Boys,  if  I  never  see  you  here  agnn, 
try  to  meet  me  on  the  other  side  of  Jordan."  Nt  °J 
did  we  look  upon  his  noble  face  again! 


THE  FIRST   TRAGEDY.  197 


CHAPTER  XII. 

THE   FIRST   TRAGEDY. 

WE  will  first  narrate  the  history  of  the  nine  soldiers 
and  their  leader,  from  whom  we  parted  with  so  much 
sorrow  and  foreboding  when  the  remainder  of  us  were 
sent  to  Knoxville.  Various  reasons  have  been  conjec- 
tured for  this  separation,  one  of  which  has  been  given 
in  the  preceding  chapter.  Another  that  has  been  en- 
tertained by  many  of  the  party,  who  have  had  the  op- 
portunity of  reviewing  the  facts,  is  that  the  enemy  was 
now  ready  to  proceed  in  the  work  of  vengeance,  and 
wished  to  lessen  any  possible  danger  of  escape  on  our 
part  when  we  had  been  driven  to  desperation  by  the 
beginning  of  the  bloody  work.  If  this  was  their  de- 
sign, it  was  not  without  success,  for  the  attempt  to 
escape,  fixed  for  the  very  day  of  our  separation,  was  in 
consequence  postponed  for  a  time. 

A  week  elapsed,  during  which  nothing  occurred  to 
break  the  monotony  of  imprisonment.  The  plan  of 
escape  had  been  modified  to  be  more  easily  within  the 
reach  of  the  diminished  numbers  of  the  prisoners.  The 
jack-knife,  which  had  made  keys  for  unlocking  the 
handcuffs,  was  again  brought  into  use.  The  jail  walls 
consisted  of  brick,  and  were  lined  inside  with  heavy 
plank,  reaching  to  the  top  of  the  upper  room  and  cov- 
ering the  ceiling.  Three  men  leaned  against  the  wall, 
while  a  fourth  stood  on  their  shoulders,  and  with  the 
knife  cut  into  the  heavy  plank  overhead.  It  was  no 
light  task  to  cut  out  a  hole  large  enough  to  admit  the 
passage  of  a  man's  body  into  the  attic.  A  small  part 
of  each  day  only  could  be  devoted  to  the  work,  and  the 
utmost  vigilance  was  needed  to  prevent  discovery.  The 

17* 


198  CAPTURING  A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

"  singing  hour"  was  especially  serviceable,  as  then  the 
noise  of  the  knife  could  not  be  heard.  The  cut,  when 
so  nearly  completed  as  to  require  little  more  labor,  was 
so  filled  up  as  not  to  attract  notice  from  below,  and  at- 
tention given  to  other  parts  of  the  work.  Just  then  an 
incident  occurred  which  added  the  energy  of  despera- 
tion to  the  efforts  for  liberty. 

Captain  Laws  entered  the  prison-yard  one  day,  while 
our  comrades  were  enjoying  the  shade  of  the  prison  in  the 
afternoon  breathing-spell,  which  had  been  procured  by 
the  kindness  of  Colonel  Cleiburne  and  himself,;uid  going 
up  to  Andrews,  with  averted  face,  handed,  him  a  paper. 
Andrews  glanced  at  it,  stood  perfectly  still  a  moment, 
and  then  silently  turned,  and  walked  up-stairs  into  the 
cell,  the  door  of  which  had  been  left  open.  No  one  of 
his  comrades  said  a  word,  but  all  felt  that  something 
dreadful  had  happened.  The  officer,  who  seemed  hardly 
able  to  control  his  own  emotion,  waited  for  a  little  time, 
and  then  telling  the  prisoners  very  gently  that  it  was 
time  to  close  up  the  prison,  guarded  them  back  to  their 
room. 

The  explanation  Andrews  then  gave  was  scarcely 
needed.  He  had  received  his  death-sentence !  A  week 
from  that  day  had  been  appointed  as  the  time,  and 
hanging  as  the  mode  of  his  execution.  The  sorrow 
of  the  brave  men  was  indescribable.  The  many  noble 
qualities  of  our  leader  had  won  not  only  respect  but 
love.  His  unselfish  regard  for  every  one  of  his  com- 
panions in  misfortune,  his  cheerful,  kindly  manner 
under  the  greatest  sufferings,  had  made  a  deep  impres- 
sion even  on  his  guards, — much  more  on  his  comrades. 

But  there  was  one  gleam  of  hope.  Andrews  and  his 
party  resolved  at  once  to  carry  out  their  projects  for 
breaking  out  of  the  jail.  These  soldiers  would  have 
dared  anything  in  the  hope  of  saving  their  leader ;  be- 
sides, the  feeling  was  general  that  this  execution  would 
be  but  the  beginning.  Some  of  the  number  had  always 
maintained  that  no  hope  existed  save  the  gleam  that 


THE  FIRST  TRAGEDY.  199 

might  come  from  some  desperate  attempt  for  liberty, 
such  as  they  were  now  to  put  forth. 

But  an  additional  obstacle  was  interposed, — Andrews 
was  put  down  in  "  the  hole"  after  receiving  his  sen- 
tence. This  required  the  well-worn  knife  to  be  again 
used,  sparingly  but  persistently.  Notches  were  sawed 
in  the  planks  which  held  the  bolts  of  the  trap-door, 
and  an  old  blanket  or  two,  with  some  articles  of  cloth 
ing,  were  twisted  into  ropes.  When  all  this  was  dom 
although  the  first  flush  of  dawu  began  to  appear  in  tin 
east,  they  dared  not  risk  the  chance  of  their  work  bein^ 
disco vered  the  next  day,  and  accordingly  resolved  to  go 
at  once.  Andrews  had  been  drawn  up  out  of  the  hole, 
and  it  was  agreed  to  give  him  the  first  chance  for  his 
life.  Andrews  and  John  Wollam  were  in  the  loft  or 
attic  over  the  prison  room,  while  all  the  others,  in  their 
assigned  order,  were  ready  to  mount  up  through  the 
aperture  they  had  cut  in  the  ceiling.  A  few  bricks  in 
the  outside  wall  had  also  been  removed,  and  enough 
of  the  rude  ropes  prepared  to  allow  one  by  one  to  de- 
scend to  the  ground.  The  hope  was  that  by  taking  off 
their  boots  and  moving  very  cautiously,  each  one  could 
go  into  the  loft  and  out  through  the  hole  in  the  wall, 
and  clamber  down  the  outside  blanket-ropes  without  dis- 
turbing the  repose  of  the  guard.  Those  wno  got  down 
first  were  to  wait  beside  the  jail  until  all  their  comrades 
were  on  the  ground  before  attempting  to  dash  across 
the  jail-fence  and  the  guard-line  outside. 

It  was  an  anxious  moment.  They  could  see  the  dim 
form  of  the  sentry,  and  hear  his  measured  tread,  as  he- 
paced  back  and  forth  not  a  dozen  yards  away.  Tin 
word  was  passed  from  one  to  another  in  the  prison  thai 
all  was  ready. 

Andrews  crept  out  first  and  swung  over  the  wall,  but 
in  doing  so  loosened  a  piece  of  mortar  or  a  brick,  which 
fell  to  the  ground  with  a  loud  "thump,"  and  attracted 
the  notice  of  the  sentry  outside,  who  instantly  gave  the 
alarm,  firing  his  gun  and  calling  "  Halt !  halt !  Cor- 


200  CAPTURING    A    LOCOMOTIVE 

poral  of  the  guard  I"  The  whole  guard  was  instantly 
aroused,  and  the  firing  became  rapid.  Andrews,  how- 
ever, dropped  to  the  ground,  darted  to  the  fence,  and 
was  over  before  he  could  be  prevented.  Wollam  heard 
the  noise  from  the  inside,  and  knowing  that  caution 
was  now  needless,  sprang  through  the  wall,  and  slid 
with  the  greatest  rapkfity  to  the  ground.  A  number 
of  shots  were  fired  while  he  was  suspended  in  the  air, 
but  the  dim  light  and  the  hurry  and  confusion  were 
not  favorable  to  a  steady  aim,  and  he,  also,  got  to  the 
ground  and  over  the  fence  unhurt.  Dorsey  was  third 
in  order,  but  was  too  late.  Before  he  could  get  into  the 
loft  the  guard  were  ready  to  make  sure  work  of  any 
who  might  follow.  He  prudently  turned  to  his  com- 
rades and  said,  "  It  is  all  up  with  us  !"  The  whole 
town  was  soon  aroused.  High  officers  visited  the  prison 
to  see  how  many  had  escaped.  They  found  the  re- 
maining eight  safely  ironed  as  before,  the  keys  having 
been  brought  into  use.  The  natural  supposition  was 
that  only  the  two  who  were  missing  had  succeeded  in 
getting  oif  their  irons,  and  that  the  others  had  not  es- 
caped because  too  tightly  fettered.  They  were,  how- 
ever, put  down  in  "  the  hole"  as  an  additional  security, 
and  all  damages  to  the  prison  carefully  repaired,  while 
the  guard  manifested  unusual  vigilance.  The  afternoon 
airing  was  forbidden,  and  all  the  strictness  which  had 
marked  the  first  confinement  in  Chattanooga  returned. 
The  poor  captives  were  made  to  feel  that  they  had  now 
nothing  to  expect  but  the  sternest  dealings. 

One  consolation  was  left  them  in  the  hope  that  their 
comrades  had  made  good  their  flight,  and  that  the 
death-sentence  of  Andrews  could  not  now  be  executed. 
When  the  firing  was  first  heard  the  not  unnatural  in- 
ference was  that  both  the  fugitives  had  perished,  but 
they  knew  that  such  news  would  soon  have  been  im- 
parted to  them ;  and  as  days  passed  by,  their  hope 
strengthened  that  two,  at  least,  of  their  fated  company 
would  get  back  to  the  Union  lines  to  tell  the  story  of 


THE  FIRST  TRAGEDY.  201 

their  adventures  and  sufferings.  How  far  these  hopes 
were  realized  will  be  seen  in  the  sequel. 

When  Andrews  left  the  prison  it  was  nearly  day,  so 
that  he  knew  he  could  not  long  continue  his  flight  with- 
out detection.  He  went  only  a  few  hundred  yards 
away  from  the  city,  and  there  finding  a  dense  tree, 
climbed,  unobserved,  into  its  branches.  It  was  in  plain 
view  of  the  railroad  and  the  river.  All  day  long  he 
remained  in  this  uncomfortable  position,  and  saw  the 
trains  passing  almost  under  his  feet,  and  heard  his  pur- 
suers speculating  as  to  what  could  possibly  have  become 
of  him.  The  search  all  over  the  vicinity  was  most 
thorough,  but  fortunately  110  one  thought  of  looking 
into  the  tree. 

At  night  he  came  down  and  swam  the  river,  but 
becoming  entangled  in  some  drift-wood,  floated  down 
past  Chattanooga,  and  did  not  disengage  himself  until 
he  had  lost  most  of  his  clothing.  His  boots  had  been 
lost  in  the  first  alarm,  and  he  was  thus  placed  in  the 
most  unfavorable  position  for  escaping,  but  he  journeyed 
on  as  well  as  he  coulcl.  Though  so  much  superior,  in 
many  particulars,  to  his  followers,  yet  in  trying  to  es- 
cape in  the  woods  he  seems  to  have  been  as  much  in- 
ferior. As  will  be  seen,  Wollam,  and,  at  a  later  period, 
many  others  of  the  number,  were  far  more  skilful  or 
fortunate  than  he.  Early  in  the  morning  he  crossed  an 
open  field  on  his  way  to  a  tree  in  which  he  intended  to 
take  shelter  as  on  the  preceding  day,  but  unfortunately 
he  was  observed.  Immediate  pursuit  was  made,  but 
he  dashed  through  the  woods  and  regained  the  river 
much  lower  down  than  the  day  before.  Here  he  swam 
a  narrow  channel  and  reached  a  small  island,  where, 
for  a  time,  he  secreted  himself  among  some  drift-wood  at 
the  upper  end  of  the  island.  In  all  his  terrible  struggle 
he  seemed  to  look  to  the  river  and  to  trees  for  safety. 
These  became  fixed  ideas,  and  possibly  interfered  with 
his  seeking  refuge  in  any  other  manner.  But  the  los* 
of  clothing  at  the  outset  was  a  fatal  misfortune. 


202  CAPTURING  A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

A  party  with  blood-hounds  now  came  over  from  the 
mainland  to  search  the  island  for  him.  The  dugs 
came  upon  him,  but  he  broke  away  from  them,  and 
ran  around  the  lower  end  of  the  island,  wading  in  the 
shallow  water,  and  in  this  way  throwing  the  hounds  off 
the  track ;  then  he  plunged  into  the  dense  thicket  with 
which  the  island  was  covered,  and  again  ascended  a 
tree.  There  for  a  long  time  he  remained  securely  i-x>n- 
cealed,  while  his  pursuers  searched  the  whole  island. 
Frequently  they  were  under  the  very  tree,  whose  nigh 
foliage  effectually  screened  him  from  the  gaze  of  dogs 
and  men.  At  last  they  abandoned  the  search  in  de- 
spair, concluding  that  he  had  by  some  means  left  the 
island.  Slowly  they  took  their  departure  to  devise 
new  plans  of  search.  Two  little  boys,  who  came  .ilong 
merely  from  curiosity,  were  all  that  were  left  behind. 

At  length,  in  their  play,  one  of  them  looked  up  ward, 
and  said  that  he  saw  a  great  bunch  on  a  tree.  The 
other  looked, — shifted  his  position, — looked  again,  and 
exclaimed,  "  Why,  it  is  a  man  !" .  They  were  alarmed 
and  cried  aloud,  thus  announcing  their  discovery  to 
their  friends  on  shore.  The  latter  instantly  returned, 
and  Andrews,  seeing  himself  discovered,  dropped  from 
the  tree,  ran  to  the  lower  end  of  the  island,  took  a 
small  log,  with  a  limb  for  a  paddle,  and  shoved  into 
the  stream,  hopiug  to  reach  the  opposite  shore  before 
he  could  be  overtaken.  But  there  was  another  party 
lower  down  the  river  with  a  skiff,  who  saw  him  and ' 
rowed  out  to  meet  him.  Thus  enclosed,  he  gave  over 
the  hopeless  struggle,  and  surrendered  to  his  fate, — in- 
evitable death  !  He  afterwards  said  that  he  felt  a  sense 
almost  of  relief  when  the  end  had  come  and  he  knew 
the  worst.  From  the  time  of  losing  his  clothing  in  the 
drift-wood  he  had  but  little  expectation  of  ultimate  es- 
cape. The  spectacle  of  a  man  condemned  to  death, 
starving  and  naked,  hunted  through  the  woods  and 
waters  by  dogs  and  men,  is  one  of  the  most  pitiable 
that  can  be  imagined. 


THE  FIRST  TRAGEDY.  203 

Alfred  Wilson,  who  was  one  of  the  eight  who  failed 
to  escape,  speaks  in  feeling  terms  of  the  manner  in 
which  their  leader  was  brought  back  to  them  on  the 
third  day  after  escaping.  He  says, — 

"  At  the  prison  we  were  startled  by  a  rumor  that  Andrews  had 
been  taken,  but  we  at  first  gave  little  credence  to  it,  probably  be- 
cause we  did  not  desire  to  believe  it.  But,  alas  I  the  rumor  was 
only  too  true,  for  soon  after,  a  strong  guard  of  soldiers,  having  in 
charge  a  prisoner,  followed  by  a  rabble  of  citizens,  approached 
the  prison.  It  was  Andrews  I  Oh,  how  our  hearts  and  hopes 
sank  down  within  us  beyond  the  power  of  expression  I  ...  I 
could  have  prayed  that  death  had  spared  me  those  painful 
moments,  the  most  harrowing  of  my  life.  He  was  the  most 
wretched  and  pitiable  human  being  I  ever  saw, — a  sight  which 
horrified  us  all,  and  even  drew  words  of  compassion  from  some 
of  our  prison  guards.  His  own  brother  wou!  1  scarcely  have  been 
able  to  recognize  him.  It  did  not  seem  possible  that  the  short 
space  of  three  days  could  have  wrought  a  change  so  startling. 
As  he  lay  there  chained  to  the  floor,  naked,  bloody,  bruised,  and 
speechless,  he  seemed  more  dead  than  alive.  He  had  not  eaten  a 
morsel  since  he  left  us, — during  which  time  he  had  made  the 
most  desperate  struggle  for  liberty  and  life.  He  had  swam 
about  seven  miles  in  the  river  in  his  efforts  to  keep  clear  of 
the  dogs.  His  feet  were  literally  torn  to  shreds  by  running  over 
the  sharp  stones  and  through  the  brush.  Towards  the  last  he  left 
blood  at  every  step.  His  back  and  shoulders  were  sun-blistered 
almost  to  the  bone,  and  so  completely  exhausted  was  he  that  he 
cou]  1  hardly  move  his  limbs  after  he  was  brought  in.  His  face 
was  pale,  haggard,  and  emaciated.  His  eyes,  which  were  sunken, 
gav  !  forth  a  wild,  despairing,  unnatural  light. 

"  When  we  were  left  to  ourselves,  we  drew  around  the  miser- 
able man,  and,  after  he  had  somewhat  revived,  he  told  us  in  that 
low,  calm  tone  of  voice  in  which  he  always  spoke,  and  which 
seldom  failed  to  impress  the  listeners  favorably  towards  the  man, 
the  whole  story  of  his  unfortunate  attempt  to  escape.  He  told 
us  he  had  but  little  time  to  live,  and  that  now,  after  having 
made  every  effort  to  save  his  life  and  to  rescue  us,  and  failed,  he 
felt  reconciled  and  resigned  to  his  fate.  He  said  he  was  incapable 
of  doing  anything  more  to  help  himself,  and  only  regretted  that 
his  death  could  not  in  some  way  be  instrumental  in  saving  us, 
his  comrades.  He  counselled  us  all  against  the  fallacy  of  hoping 
for  an  exchange,  or  for  any  mercy  from  those  into  whose  hands 
we  had  fallen.  He  said  his  doom  foreshadowed  our  own,  and 
entreated  us  to  prepare  for  the  worst,  and,  when  the  time  came, 
to  prove  to  them  that  we  were  as  brave  in  confronting  an  igno- 
minious death  for  our  country's  sake  as  we  had  been  fearless  in 
doing  service  for  her." 


jo  1  CAPTURING  A    DOCOMO  LIVE. 

A  few  more  words  will  finish  this  pitiful  story. 
Andrews,  in  Wilson's  opinion,  was  somewhat  of  a. 
fatalist,  or  at  least  was  h-aunted  with  a  presentiment 
of  coming  doom  from  the  time  he  had  fairly  entered 
upon  this  expedition.  He  had  not  long  to  wait.  He 
was  put  back  into  "  the  hole,"  but  not  before  a  negro 
blacksmith  had  welded  a  pair  of  heavy  fetters  upon  his 
ankles,  and  connected  them  with  a  chain  only  about 
eighteen  inches  in  length.  A  scaffold  was  prepared 
for  him  in  Chattanooga,  but  the  indications  of  an  ad- 
vance by  Mitchel,  and,  possibly,  expressions  of  sympa- 
thy on  the  part  of  the  citizens,  induced  the  authorities 
at  the  last  moment  to  transfer  the  death-scene  to  At- 
lanta. His  comrades  were  sent  with  him  to  that  town. 
On  the  way  to  Atlanta  he  was  taunted  with  his  ap- 
proaching doom  by  the  crowds,  who  surrounded  every 
station. 

It  was  the  day  appointed  for  the  execution.  On 
reaching  Atlanta  Andrews  and  his  eight  companions 
were  conducted  to  a  second-story  room,  not  far  from 
the  depot.  In  a  little  time  a  body  of  soldiers  marched 
up  into  the  building,  an  officer  appeared  at  the  door, 
and,  while  all  were  silent  as  death,  said,  in  a  lo\v,  almost 
Altering  tone,  "  Come  on  now,  Mr.  Andrews."  He  in- 
stantly arose,  and  the  low,  sad  "  Farewell,  boys,"  spoken 
in  his  calmest,  sweetest  tones,  mingled  with  the  horri- 
ble clanking  of  his  chains,  as  he  walked  out  with  the 
short,  halting  step  his  irons  compelled.  This  was  the 
final  separation. 

The  survivors  were  conducted  to  the  city  jail  of  At- 
lanta, and  there  placed  in  an  iron  cage.  At  meal-lime 
the  guards  told  them  how  bravely  Andrews  died.  His 
fortitude  stilled  even  the  clamorous  spectators.  The 
dying  agony  was  protracted  by  the  unskilful  ness  of 
the  executioner,  the  rope  stretching  so  that  his  feet 
touched  the  ground.  But  the  earth  was  shovelled 
away,  and  the  brave  spirit  set  free.  Why  should  the 
gallows  be  accounted  infamous  when  courage  and  pa- 


A    CONFEDERATE   COURT-MARTIAL.          205 

triotism  there  meet  a  hero's  death?  The  cross  was 
once  esteemed  more  shameful  than  the  gallows  now, 
but  one  death  has  sanctified  that  instrument  forever ! 

The  grave  of  Andrews  at  Atlanta  was  unmarked, 
and,  in  the  many  changes  that  have  taken  place  there, 
it  is  probably  lost  forever.  The  most  diligent  search 
on  the  part  of  the  writer  failed  to  discover  it.  But  the 
rope  adjudged  by  the  court-martial,  all  of  whose  mem- 
bers have  passed  into  obscurity  with  the  downfall  of 
the  rebellion  they  served,  cannot  desecrate  his  memory. 
No  flowers  can  be  placed  on  his  unknown  grave  by 
loyal  hands,  but  loving  tears  will  fall  freely  for  him  as 
long  as  hearts  can  feel  for  the  extremity  of  misfortune 
that  gathered  around  the  last  hours  of  the  man  who 
planned  and  boldly  executed  the  most  romantic  and 
perilous  enterprise  of  the  Great  Civil  War. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

A   CONFEDERATE   COURT-MARTIAL. 

BEFORE  describing  the  adventures  of  Wollam — An- 
drews' companion  in  flight  from  the  Chattanooga  prison 
— we  will  turn  towards  the  twelve  prisoners  destined 
for  Knoxville,  where  a  yet  more  fearful  tragedy  was 
in  preparation. 

On  parting  from  our  comrades  we  were  escorted  to 
the  cars  by  Colonel  Cleiburne,  where  we  found,  much 
to  our  gratification,  that  we  were  to  be  guarded  by  a 
party  of  Morgan's  guerrillas,  whose  exploits  were  then 
greatly  celebrated.  Cleiburue  recommended  us  to  the 
humane  care  of  these  partisans,  saying,  "  These  prison- 
ers are  men,  like  other  men,  and  gentlemen  too,  and  I 
want  them  treated  as  such."  This  charge  from  the 
generous  Irishman,  for  such  he  was,  did  much  to  secure 

18 


206  CAPTURING  A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

courteous  treatment  from  our  guard.  Indeed,  the  posi- 
tion of  the  irregular  soldiers  who  served  under  the 
guerr.lla  chief  was  such  as  to  make  them  admire  rather 
than  blame  the  bold  enterprise  that  led  to  our  capture. 
They  were  themselves  in  citizen's  dress,  and  were  not 
always  careful  to  provide  uniforms  before  penetmting 
into  the  Federal  lines.  A  considerable  number  of 
their  comrades  had  been  captured  under  such  circum- 
stances, and  were,  by  every  rule  of  right,  equally  liable 
with  ourselves  to  be  treated  as  criminals.  Indeed,  the 
position  of  some  of  their  captured  comrades  was  still 
more  questionable,  for  they  had  assumed  the  United 
States  uniform  whenever  they  found  it  to  their  advan- 
tage. The  inconsistency  of  the  rebel  government  in 
treating  our  party  so  harshly  is  conclusively  shown  by 
the  fact  that  they  had  passed  laws  for  the  encourage 
ment  of  just  such  irregular  warfare. 

But  we  have  no  complaint  to  make  of  these  dashing 
guerrillas.  They  were  very  indignant  to  see  us  in  irons, 
and  offered  to  be  responsible  for  our  safe-keeping  if 
these  were  removed ;  but  this  was  not  allowed. 

As  was  common  in  our  removals  from  prison  to 
prison,  we  had  been  started  without  any  rations, — not 
so  much,  I  presume,  from  wanton  cruelty  as  because 
it  was  no  one's  especial  business  to  furnish  provisions. 
As  the  journey  occupied  twenty-four  hours  (and  we 
were  hungry  to  begin  with),  our  privation  would  have 
been  considerable  but  for  the  generosity  of  Morgan's 
men.  They  bought  pies  and  whatever  else  they  could 
find  at  the  station  eating-houses,  and  literally  feasted 
us.  From  the  time  of  our  capture  we  had  not  experi- 
enced such  treatment,  and  only  hoped  that  these  gen- 
erous enemies  might  have  charge  of  us  as  long  as  we 
remained  in  Confederate  territory, — a  hope  which  was 
not  realized.  We  never  met  them  again. 

We  arrived  in  Knoxville  shortly  after  noon,  having 
spent  the  night  on  the  cars,  and  were  marched  through 
the  hot,  dusty  streets  to  the  city  jail, — an  old  building 


A    CONFEDERATE   COURT-MARTIAL.  207 

of  peculiar  architecture, — solid,  square,  and  massive, 
presenting  quite  an  imposing  appearance.  It  was  used 
as  a  military  prison,  and  was  filled  from  top  to  bottom 
with  ragged,  dirty-looking  prisoners.  Some  Union 
men,  and  several  rebel  soldiers  who  had  been  captured 
while  attempting  to  desert,  were  with  them.  These 
constituted  the  less  valued  class  of  prisoners,  and  were 
permitted  to  range  over  most  of  the  building,  which, 
however,  was  completely  encircled  outside,  and  watched 
in  every  passage-way,  by  a  strong  guard. 

The  class  of  prisoners  whose  offences  were  considered 
of  a  more  aggravated  character  were  shut  up  in  cages. 
There  were  iivc  of  these  cages,  two  of  which  were  at 
once  cleared  for  our  reception.  The  smaller  was  seven 
by  nine  feet,  and  four  of  us  were  put  in  it.  The  larger 
was  perhaps  ten  by  twelve,  and  held  the  remaining 
eight. 

We  arrived  at  Knoxville  in  the  latter  part  of  May, 
and  remained  until  June  10.  Outside,  the  weather  was 
intensely  warm,  but  the  enormous  mass  of  iron  and 
stone  in  the  walls  of  the  prison  made  it  comparatively 
cool  within.  The  days  here  spent  were  not  altogether 
unpleasant.  Our  food  was  scanty  and  of  indifferent 
quality,  but  as  long  as  we  were  allowed  hope  I  did  not 
feel  much  disposed  to  complain  of  this.  Besides,  many 
of  the  Union  men  of  Knoxville,  who  visited  us,  were 
liberal  in  the  gift  of  money,  and  by  employing  the  ser- 
vices of  those  prisoners  who  were  less  strictly  guarded, 
\ve  were  able  to  get  many  an  extra  loaf  of  bread. 

We  here  became  acquainted  with  some  Tennesseeans 
who  were  long  our  companions.  One  of  the  most  re- 
markable was  an  old  man  named  Pierce.  He  pre- 
sented a  most  peculiar  appearance,  having  at  some 
period  of  his  history  received  a  terrible  blow  with  a 
gun-barrel,  which  left  a  permanent  gash  more  than  an 
inch  deep  clear  across  the  forehead  from  the  nose  to 
his  hair.  From  this  circumstance  he  was  variously 
known  in  the  prison  as  "  Forked  Head,"  "  Old  Gun- 


208  CAPTURING   A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

barrel,"  etc.  He  presented  the  singular  combination 
of  great  piety  and  great  profanity,  singing  hymns  and 
cursing  the  Confederacy  with  equal  zeal.  But  his 
friendship  for  Union  soldiers  knew  no  bounds,  and, 
being  very  bold,  he  was  able  to  render  us  many  valu- 
able services. 

Another  East  Tennesseean,  more  widely  known,  was 
Captain  Fry,  of  Greenville,  a  town  near  the  Virginia 
boundary.  He  was  confined  in  a  cage,  and  considered 
by  our  guards  almost  equally  criminal  with  ourselves. 
Early  in  the  war  he  had  gathered  a  number  of  his 
neighbors,  and,  running  the  gauntlet  of  guarded  roads, 
succeeded  in  reaching  our  army  in  Kentucky.  Here 
he  was  appointed  captain  of  his  recruits,  and  remained 
for  some  time.  When  an  advance  into  East  Tennessee 
through  Cumberland  Gap  was  contemplated,  the  Uuion 
general  asked  him  to  return  to  his  home,  organize  the 
loyal  citizens  of  that  vicinity,  burn  the  bridges  on  the 
Richmond  and  Knoxville  Railroad,  and  then  to  keep 
possession  of  the  mountainous  region  till  our  forces 
could  arrive.  With  the  most  explicit  assurances  of 
speedy  aid,  he  departed  on  his  perilous  mission.  Suc- 
cess on  his  part  was  rapid  and  complete.  He  raised 
fifteen  hundred  men,  obstructed  all  communications, 
burned  the  bridges,  and  seriously  threatened  Knox- 
ville itself.  A  very  small  Union  reinforcement  could 
then  have  rendered  invaluable  services,  and  all  the 
men  needed  for  the  work  were  assembled  not  far  from 
Cumberland  Gap.  But  the  attention  of  the  military 
authorities  was  then  turned  in  another  direction,  and 
the  plan  of  advancing  into  East  Tennessee  was  accord- 
ingly abandoned.  No  word  of  the  change  reached 
Fry,  who  struggled  on  alone.  But  the  odds  were  too 
great.  An  overwhelming  force  of  the  enemy  \v;us 
thrown  upon  him,  and  after  several  contests  he  and  his 
brave  men  were  forced  to  disperse.  A  few  succeeded 
in  reaching  the  loyal  lines,  and  these  mostly  enlisted  in 
our  army.  Others  were  captured,  and  many  of  them 


A    CONFEDERATE    COURT-MARTIAL.  209 

hanged  as  rebels  !  General  Lead  better  was  very  con- 
spicuous in  this  savage  work.  Fry  himself  passed  the 
whole  winter  in  hiding  among  the  wild  mountains  of 
that  section,  and  in  the  spring  mustered  several  hun- 
dred of  those  who  were  fugitives  like  himself,  and  tried 
to  reach  the  Union  lines.  Near  the  border  he  was 
overtaken  by  a  superior  rebel  force,  and  after  a  severe 
contest  he  was  defeated,  wounded,  and  taken  prisoner. 
This  was  on  the  5th  of  March,  1862,  and  he  was  kept 
in  solitary  confinement  until  placed  witli  us  on  the  llth 
of  June  following.  Captain  Fry's  subsequent  fortunes 
were  closely  united  with  those  of  our  party — indeed, 
with  my  own — and  will  be  related  in  due  time. 

When  I  bring  back  in  memory  the  minute  impres- 
sions of  those  eventful  days,  I  feel  surprise  that  so 
many  hours  of  comparative  pleasure  were  found.  We 
had  here  many  perso'ns  to  converse  with.  We  had 
light  and  air,  which  we  had  not  at  Chattanooga.  We 
procured  newspapers  with  frequency,  no  attempt  being 
made  to  prevent  this  as  in  other  prisons,  and  were  able 
to  form  some  idea  of  the  gigantic  contest  in  which  we 
were  so  deeply  interested,  and  which  at  that  time  pro- 
gressed hopefully.  We  had  become  most  intimate  with 
each  other,  and  would  not  allow  despondency  or  brood- 
ing over  trouble  to  take  hold  upon  any  one  of  our 
number.  We  also  provided  employment  for  each 
waking  hour,  and  until  those  tragic  events  occurred 
which  deepened  the  gloom  around  us  we  were  compar- 
atively hopeful  and  happy.  I  even  managed  to  take 
up  the  thread  of  my  law  studies  and  prosecute  them 
vigorously.  I  sent  word  through  a  visitor  to  a  law 
firm — Baxter  &  Temple — that  I  wanted  to  borrow 
"  Greenleaf  on  Evidence,"  and  almost  as  much  to  my 
surprise  as  pleasure  the  volumes  were  promptly  sent. 
The  prison  made  quite  a  good  study,  and  the  spectacle 
of  a  man  reading  law  in  an  iron  cage  seemed  to  guards 
and  visitors  alike  an  excellent  jest.  But  I  could  afford 
to  let  them  laugh,  for  mine  was  the  gain,  not  only  in 
o  18* 


210  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE 

the  knowledge  acquired,  but  in  causing  the  prison  days 
to  pass  less  wearily. 

Before  we  had  been  long  at  Knoxville  we  were  vis- 
ited by  an  officer,  whom  we  had  seen  frequently  in 
Chattanooga,  and  who  told  us  that  he  was  judge-advo- 
cate of  a  court-martial  about  to  convene,  and  notified 
us  to  prepare  for  trial.  Neither  this  intelligence  nor 
his  manner  in  giving  it  was  at  all  alarming.  We  knew 
that  we  had  been  ordered  to  Knoxville  for  this  very 
purpose,  and  were  only  anxious  to  have  the  trial  soon 
over,  that  we  might  be  formally  declared  prisoners  of 
war,  and  thus  be  placed  in  position  to  be  exchanged,  if 
an  opportunity  should  occur.  To  this  end  we  asked 
the  judge-advocate  if  we  would  all  be  put  on  trial  at 
once,  and  when  he  answered  in  the  negative,  we  urged 
the  expediency  and  justice  of  that  course,  assuring  him 
that  the  cases  of  all  were  precisely  alike.  But  he  re- 
fused with  some  curtness.  We  next  asked  that  he 
would  select  one  of  our  number  to  be  tried,  whor.G 
award  might  determine  the  position  of  the  whole  part)-, 
and  offering  to  sign  a  paper  agreeing  to  this  course. 
This  he  also  refused,  with  the  declaration  that  the  court 
knew  its  own  business,  and  that  every  owe  of  us  should 
be  tried  on  his  own  merits.  The  only  reason  I  have 
ever  been  able  to  imagine  for  this  course  is  that  the  in- 
tentions towards  us  were  much  more  serious  than  we 
had  been  allowed  to  conjecture,  and  that  it  would  have 
looked  too  absurd  to  arraign  so  large  a  band  of  private 
soldiers  from  one  brigade  on  the  charge  of  being1  spies. 
\Ve  asked  him  for  the  charge  on  which  the  trial  was  to 
take  place,  and  with  some  apparent  hesitation  he  gave 
it, — the  same  against  all.  It  was  charged,  in  substam*?, 
that  we  were  enemies  who  were  lurking  in  and  around 
Confederate  camps  as  spies  for  the  purpose  of  obtain- 
ing military  information.  Not  one  word  was  aaid 
about  seizing  the  cars  or  anything  that  we  did  or  tried 
to  do.  Wilson  spoke  out  boldly,  and  said,  "  But  you 
know  we  are  not  spies,  and  have  yourself  told  us  that 


A    CONFEDERATE   COURT-MARTIAL.  211 

we  cannot  be  held  as  such."  Then,  with  what  I  can- 
not but  consider  as  deep  deception,  he  replied  that  their 
expectation  now  was  to  obtain  a  negative  verdict,  which 
would  justify  them  in  exchanging  us.  He  further  ad- 
vised us  to  employ  counsel  and  put  our  cause  in  good 
shape,  but  not  to  make  ourselves  uneasy.  The  whole 
conversation  left  some  apprehension  upon  our  minds, 
but  in  the  case  of  most  of  us  the  inherent  hopefulness 
of  youth  BOOH  banished  it. 

Our  plan  of  defence  has  been  partly  indicated  before. 
Ft  was  to  tell  just  who  we  were  and  what  we  had  done, 
and  to  claim  that  we  were  United  States  soldiers,  de- 
tailed on  a  military  expedition  without  our  own  consent 
or  knowledge,'  and  simply  obeying  orders.  We  were 
to  deny  in  the  strongest  terms  that  we  had  been  lurk- 
ing about  any  camps,  or  that  we  had  sought  or  obtained 
any  military  information.  No  question  was  to  be  an- 
swered that  would  lead  to  the  discovery  of  the  engineer 
or  tend  to  show  that  any  one  had  volunteered  for  this 
service.  As  to  evidence  against  us,  we  kneAV  that  our 
recorded  confessions,  made  when  we  were  first  brought 
to  Chattanooga,  could  be  used,  and  possibly  the  evidence 
of  those  who  first  captured  us.  But  no  one  could  say 
anything  about  our  lurking  around  Confederate  camps. 
We  had  been  within  the  guard-lines  at  Big  Shanty,  but 
we  were  no  more  "  lurking"  there  than  a  body  of  cav- 
alry who  might  charge  into  a  camp.  Indeed,  we  felt 
sure  that  the  charge,  in  the  form  it  bore,  could  not  be 
sustained.  To  make  the  greatest  impression  of  candor, 
our  story  was  sketched  in  brief,  with  the  approval  of 
the  whole  number,  and,  at  a  subsequent  visit  of  tin 
judge-advocate,  handed  to  him.-  He  took  our  signa- 
tures to  it,  and  it  was  read  on  the  trials  as  our  confes- 
sion. It  saved  our  enemies  some  trouble  in  the  matter 
of  witnesses,  and  put  our  case  in  what  we  judged  the 
most  favorable  light. 

Baxter  &  Temple,  who  had  so  kindly  accommo- 
dated me  with  books,  were  willing  to  act  as  our  counsel. 


212  CAPTURING  A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

They  stipulated  that,  as  fast  as  tried,  we  should  give 
them  our  notes  for  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  each. 
They  did  not  care  for  the  money,  and,  indeed,  the  pros- 
pect of  obtaining  it  was  not  very  favorable.  But  their 
own  safety  required  that  their  help  should  appear  to  be 
purely  professional.  They  assured  me  privately  that 
they  were  loyal  to  our  government  and  would  do  us 
any  favor  they  dared.  They  did  promote  our  comfort 
by  the  secret  gift  of  some  money. 

The  story  of  the  trials  may  soon  be  told.  The 
charges  and  specifications  of  William  Campbell  were 
first  handed  in.  He  was  a  citizen  of  Kentucky  in 
reality,  but  claimed  to  be  a  member  of  Company  K, 
Second  Ohio,  and  we  were  careful  to  endorse  his  state- 
ment. It  was  never  suspected  that  he  stood  in  any 
different  relation  from  his  comrades.  After  the  over- 
throw of  the  Confederacy  the  writer  obtained  copies 
of  these  charges  and  specifications,  together  with  many 
other  papers  from  the  rebel  archives.  They  are  still 
on  file  at  Washington.  With  the  exception  of  the 
change  of  names  and  position  in  the  army,  the  charge? 
were  precisely  alike  in  all  the  cases. 

" Charge. — Violation  of  Section  2d  of  the  101«t  Article  of  the 
Rules  and  Articles  of  War. 

"  Specification  1st. — In  that  the  said  William  Campbell,  private 
Company  '  K,'  Second  Ohio  Kegiment,  U.S.A.,  not  owing  alle- 
giance to  the  Confederate  States  of  America,  and  being  in  the 
service  and  army  of  the  United  States,  then  and  now  at  war  wit} 
the  Confederate  States  of  America,  did,  on  or  about  the  7th  da\ 
of  April,  1862,  leave  the  army  of  the  United  States,  then  lykig 
near  Shelbyville,  Tennessee,  and  with  a  company  of  about  twenty 
other  soldiers  of  the  United  States  army,  all  dressed  in  citizen'* 
clothes,  repair  to  Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  entering  covertly 
within  the  lines  of  the  Confederate  forces  at  that  post,  and  did 
thus,  on  or  about  the  1 1th  d:iy  of  April,  1802,  lurk  as  a  spy  in  and 
about  the  encampment  of  said  forces,  representing  himself  as  a 
citizen  of  Kentucky  going  to  join  the  Southern  army. 

"  Specification  2d. — And  the  said  William  Campbell,  private 
Company  '  K,1  Second  Ohio  Kegimcnt,  U.S.A.,  thus  dressed  in 
citizen'!  clothes,  and  representing  himself  as  a  citizen  of  Ken- 
tucky going  to  join  the  Southern  army,  did  proceed  by  railroad 
to  Marietta,  Georgia, — thus  covertly  pass  through  the  lines  of 


A    CONFEDERATE   COURT-MARTIAL.  213 

the  Confederate  forces  stationed  at  Chattanooga,  Dalton,  and 
Camp  McDonald,  and  did  thus,  on  or  about  the  llth  day  of  April, 
1862,  lurk  as  a  spy  in  and  about  the  said  encampments  of  the 
Confederate  forces  at  the  places  stated  aforesaid." 

All  mention  of  the  capture  of  the  train,  with  the 
terrible  chase  that  followed,  is  entirely  omitted  from 
this  paper.  Could  this  be  for  any  other  reason  than 
that  this  sequel  would  disprove  the  fact  of  "  lurking  as 
a  spy,"  on  which  the  whole  charge  is  made  to  turn,  and 
make  the  whole  expedition  appear  of  a  distinctive  mili- 
tary character  ?  The  whole  charge  of  "  lurking  as  a 
spy"  was  constructive — not  real.  No  evidence  could 
be  adduced  to  show  that  any  one  of  us  had  lingered 
for  a  single  hour  at  any  one  of  the  three  Confederate 
encampments  mentioned.  Neither  was  there  any  evi- 
dence that  our  false  stories  were  told  inside  of  any 
encampment. 

With  charges  which  were  simply  a  recital  o*f  a  small 
part  of  our  own  admissions  and  some  inference  from 
them,  the  trials  were  very  simple  and  brief.  William 
Campbell  was  taken  out  first,  the  above  paper  read  to 
him,  and  he  responded,  "  Not  true,  so  far  as  lurking  in 
any  camp  or  being  a  spy  is  concerned."  The  plea  of 
"  not  guilty"  was  then  entered  for  him,  our  own  confes- 
sion read,  one  or  two  minor  witnesses  called,  and  he  re- 
turned to  prison.  The  next  day  another  man  was  taken 
to  the  court  and  the  same  story  rehearsed.  Thus  each 
day  one  trial  only  took  place,  and  no  pleadings  were 
heard  by  the  prisoner,  cither  for  or  against  himself, 
and  no  sentence  was  given.  The  time  occupied  in  each 
session  of  the  court  was  not  much  more  than  an  houi 
The  table  around  which  the  court  sat  was  covered  with 
bottles,  newspapers,  and  novels,  and  the  members  occu- 
pied themselves  during  the  proceedings  in  discussing 
these.  All  this  was  very  well  if  the  object  was,  as  they 
assured  us,  merely  to  put  formally  on  record  our  true 
character  as  prisoners  of  war ;  but  it  was  most  heartless 
if  the  trial  was  in  earnest,  and  a  matter  of  life  or  death. 


214  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

Wilson  related  to  me  a  ludicrous  incident  that  oc- 
curred when  he  was  on  trial.  No  instance  of  his  being 
anywhere  within  the  guard-lines  was  proved.  A  young 
lieutenant  requested  to  be  placed  on  the  witness-stand 
to  testify  of  one  occasion  when  he  knew  that  the  pris- 
oner had  passed  their  picket-lines.  His  offer  was  gladly 
accepted.  On  being  sworn,  he  stated  that  he  had  com- 
manded a  picket-post  which  included  the  Chattanooga 
ferry,  and  this  ferry  the  prisoner  admitted  passing.  Im- 
mediately the  president  of  the  court  arose  and  said  that 
the  young  gentleman  was  mistaken,  as  he  himself  com- 
manded the  guard  that  day,  and  that  no  guard  teas 
placed  at  the  ferry.  The  whole  court  was  thrown  into 
a  roar  of  laughter,  and  the  confusion  of  our  would-be 
con  victor  may  be  imagined. 

Our  lawyers  visited  us  frequently  in  the  prison  for 
the  purpose  of  consultation,  and  expressed  themselves 
as  delighted  with  the  turn  matters  were  taking.  No 
evidence  had  been  found  to  discredit  or  go  beyond  our 
own  statements.  They  said  that  all  the  plans  of  the 
prosecution  had  been  deranged,  and  that  if  convicted 
now,  it  would  be  through  mere  prejudice  and  perjury 
on  the  pail  of  the  court. 

There  was  one  feature  of  the  trial,  however,  which  I 
did  not  like,  and  against  which  we  protested  with  all  our 
power.  No  one  who  was  tried  was  allowed  to  be  present 
to  hear  the  pleading  of  counsel  on  either  side.  We  could, 
neither  hear  what  the  judge-advocate  urged  against  us 
nor  what  our  lawyers  said  in  our  favor.  Even  at  the 
trial  of  Andrews,  in  Chattanooga,  he  had  not  been  de- 
barred this  privilege.  But  in  this,  and  one  other  par- 
ticular to  be  narrated  later,  the  rebels  used  our  soldiers 
with  less  show  of  justice  than  had  been  accorded  to 
Andrews  himself. 

After  three  or  four  of  our  number  had  been  tried, 
one  of  our  lawyers  read  to  us  the  plea,  which  he  said 
he  had  read  after  the  trial  of  each  man,  and  would  con- 
tinue to  read.  It  appeared  to  me  to  be  a  paper  of  great 


A    CONFEDERATE   COURT-MARTIAL.  215 

ability,  and  I  cannot  conceive  how  it  could  be  success- 
fully answered.  Judge- Advocate-General  Holt  offi- 
cially speaks  of  it  as  "This  just  and  unanswerable 
presentation  of  the  case."  It  was  contended  that  our 
being  dressed  in  citizen's  clothes  instead  of  Federal 
uniforms,  which  was  the  only  unmilitary  incident  in 
the  whole  history,  ought  not  to  weigh  against  us,  be- 
cause this  was  nothing  more  than  the  Confederate  gov- 
ernment had  expressly  authorized  in  the  case  of  their 
own  soldiers,  and  that  making  war  without  uniform 
was  practised  by  all  the  guerrillas  in  the  Confederate 
service, — by  some  from  necessity,  and  by  others  because 
they  were  thus  able  better  to  escape  detection,  and  in- 
flict more  damage  upon  the  enemy.  A  special  instance 
was  cited  in  which  General  Morgan  had  dressed  a  de- 
tachment of  his  partisans  in  Federal  uniform,  and 
passed  them  off  as  belonging  to  the  Eighth  Pennsyl- 
vania Cavalry,  by  which  means  he  had  succeeded  in 
reaching  and  damaging  a  railroad  within  the  Federal 
lines.  Some  of  these  very  men  were  captured  by  the 
Federal  government,  and  were,  up  to  the  present,  held 
as  prisoners  of  war.  To  decide  that  we  were  spies 
because  we  were  captured  without  our  uniform  would 
not  only  provoke  retaliation,  but  establish  a  principle 
far  more  dangerous  to  the  Confederate  than  to  the 
Federal  forces.  It  was  urged  that  we  had  stated  the 
object  of  our  expedition,  which  was  a  purely  military 
one,  and  as  such  entirely  within  the  laws  of  war.  No 
evidence  had  been  adduced  to  show  that  we  were  other 
than  what  we  claimed.  The  plea  closed  by  asking  what 
good  purpose  could  be  served  by  sacrificing  ignomini- 
ously  the  lives  of  so  many  brave  men  on  a  charge 
which  had  been  conclusively  disproved  by  the  evidence, 
and  which  every  member  of  the  court  knew  to  be  really 
untrue.  We  were  not  spies  in  fact,  and  to  call  us  such 
against  their  own  convictions,  and  on  merely  technical 
and  constructive  grounds,  would  be  as  unwise  as  it  was 
cruel.  The  plea  did  not  embrace  one  argument  which 


216  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

added  very  much  to  our  hopefulness,  and  which  our 
lawyers  considered  likely  to  have  a  great  weight  with 
the  court,  though  they  dared  nQt  formally  state  it 
McClellan  had  not  yet  been  repulsed  before  Richmond, 
and  the  collapse  of  the  Rebellion  seemed  imminent. 
The  same  rigid  construction  which  was  necessary  to 
make  us  spies  would  assuredly  render  them  all  liable  to 
the  punishment  of  treason,  and  they  were  not  in  a  posi- 
tion to  make  it  prudent  to  invoke  the  utmost  severitks 
and  extreme  penalties  of  the  laws  of  war.  As  I  glance 
back  over  the  lapse  of  twenty  years  it  still  seems  to  me 
strange  that  the  decision  of  the  court-martial  in  our 
favor  could  have  been  for  a  moment  doubtful.  But, 
alas  !  reason  and  sound  judgment  do  not  always  rule  in 
human  affairs.  Though  we  knew  it  not  then,  the  life 
of  every  man  in  that  Knoxville  prison  was  trembling 
in  the  balance. 

For  one  whole  week — seven  days — the  trials  went 
on,  the  same  forms  being  used  in  the  case  of  each  man, 
who  was  taken  out  for  an  hour  and  returned,  knowing 
nothing  of  his  sentence,  having  heard  no  pleading 
against  himself,  and  being  treated  in  no  sense  differently 
;ifter  his  trial.  On  the  seventh  day  we  read  that  General 
Mitchel  had  advanced  to  Chattanooga  and  was  shelling 
the  town  across  the  river,  and  also,  that  the  Federal  Gen- 
eral Morgan  was  advancing  from  Cumberland  Gap,  and 
threatening  Knoxville.  We  fervently  hoped  that  the 
latter  would  settle  the  question  of  our  fate  by  capturing 
the  town  while  we  were  still  in  it.  This  would  have 
done  away  with  all  further  perplexity  as  to  the  de- 
cision of  the  court-martial ! 

This  advance  did  prevent  all  further  trials.  The 
officers  of  the  court  were  hurried  off  to  their  regiments 
to  resist  the  enemy.  From  the  newspapers,  which  some 
prisoners  managed  to  obtain  every  day,  and  then  loaned 
or  read  to  all  the  others,  we  were  kept  well  informed 
as  to  the  progress  of  events.  Some  of  the  intelligence 
they  brought  thrilled  us  to  our  souls.  More  than  a 


A    CONFEDERATE   COURT-MARTIAL.          217 

week  before  this  we  read  of  the  escape  of  Andrews  and 
Wo! lam  from  the  Chattanooga  prison.  We  greatly  re- 
joiced, believing  firmly  that  our  leader  would  be  sure 
to  get  to  our  lines,  and  then  use  all  his  influence  to  se- 
cure some  form  of  help  for  us.  The  news  of  his  recap- 
ture overthrew  all  these  hopes  and  filled  us  with  anx- 
ious apprehension,  although  we  were  ignorant  of  his 
being  sentenced  to  death.  Of  the  fate  of  Wollam 
nothing  was  stated. 

But  a  more  terrible  blow  was  in  store.  One  day  a 
newspaper  was  silently  passed  up  to  our  cage  by  some 
friend  outside,  and,  glancing  at  it,  the  first  thing  that 
arrested  our  attention  was  an  account  of  the  execution  of 
Andrews!  With  equal  silence  we  sent  it  into  the  other 
cage.  Just  before  this  deadly  intelligence  came  we  had 
been  engaged  in  story-telling  and  in  various  games,  for 
we  were  always  merry,  refusing  to  indulge  in  gloomy 
forebodings.  But  this  was  the  sudden  opening  of  an 
awful  gulf  at  our  feet.  All  noise  and  merriment  wero 
suspended,  and  we  passed  the  whole  day  in  mourning. 
We  could  not  talk  to  our  guards  as  lightly  as  we  had 
done  before,  for  there  was  now  blood  between  us.  We 
all  loved  Andrews,  and  would  have  undergone  any 
peril  to  save  him,  but  there  was  no  possibility  now 
even  of  vengeance.  And,  although  his  fate  was  gov- 
erned by  different  principles  from  ours,  we  could  not 
help  feeling  more  distrustful  of  our  own  position. 

An  extra  guard,  bearing  a  great  number  of  ropes, 
came  in  the  morning  after  the  last  trial,  and  we  were 
called  out  of  our  cages.  This  was  startling,  as  we  had 
no  hint  of  their  purpose,  and  the  word  was  even  passed 
around  that  we  were  all  to  be  taken  out  and  hanged 
immediately.  But  one  of  the  outside  prisoners  found 
an  opportunity  to  inform  us  that  he  had  overheard  the 
commander  saying  that  he  was  to  remove  us  to  prevent 
our  capture  in  case  of  a  sudden  Federal  dash  upon 
Knoxville.  This  convinced  us  that  we  were  only  to 
have  another  of  our  frequent  changes  of  prisons. 
K  10 


218  CAPTURING   A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

In  our  cages  here  we  had  not  been  ironed,  and,  aa 
our  fetters  had  been  used  on  some  prisoners  sent  to 
Richmond,  we  were  now  obliged  to  content  ourselves 
with  a  most  liberal  allowance  of  cotton  rope.  It  was 
this  provision  for  tying  us  which  at  first  excited  our 
apprehensions. 

While   we   were   being  securely   bound  I  had   an 
amusing  passage-at-words  with  the  adjutant,  who  was 
superintending  that  operation.     I  said  to  him,  as  po 
litely  as  I  could, — 

u  I  suppose,  sir,  our  destination  is  not  known  ?" 

"  It  is  not  known  to  you  at  any  rate,  sir,"  was  the 
gruff  rejoinder. 

This  was  noticed  by  the  whole  party,  and  I  felt 
rather  l)eaten ;  but  a  moment  later  came  my  chance 
for  revenge.  He  turned  again  to  me,  and  said,  in  a 
dictatorial  manner, — 

"  Who  was  it  that  run  your  engine  through  ?" 

I  bowed,  and  returned  in  the  blandest  tone,  "That  i» 
not  known  to  you  at  any  rate,  sir." 

All  the  prisoners  around  roared  with  laughter,  and 
the  adjutant,  reddening  to  the  eyes,  turned  away,  mut- 
tering that  he  believed  I  was  the  engineer  myself! 

When  the  process  of  tying  was  completed  to  the 
adjutant's  satisfaction,  we  took  our  departure  southward, 
and  passed  through  Chattanooga  once  more,  but,  to  our 
satisfaction,  did  not  stop  there.  We  continued  south- 
ward, in  the  direction  of  Atlanta.  No  rations  were 
taken  for  us,  as  usual,  and  having  on  this  occasion  no 
guerrillas  to  buy  us  supplies,  we  were  obliged  to  fast 
the  whole  time.  At  various  stations  the  populace 
taunted  us  with  Andrews'  death,  and  charitably  hoped 
we  might  soon  meet  the  same  fate.  The  remark  was 
often  made  that  we  were  going  to  Atlanta  to  be  hanged 
there,  as  he  had  been  !  Captain  Fry,  Pierce,  and  a  few 
other  of  the  East  Tennesseeans  were  taken  along  with 
us.  Before  we  reached  Chattanooga,  we  had,  as  ] 
thought,  an  excellent  chance  to  effect  our  escape.  Thf 


A    CONFEDERATE   COURT-MARTIAL. 

journey  was  so  slow  that  night  came  on,  and  our  guard, 
wearied  with  the  frequent  delays,  had  relaxed  their 
vigilance,  and  most  of  them  slept  by  our  sides.  They 
exceeded  us  in  numbers,  and  were  armed,  while  we 
were  tied.  But  our  two  months'  experience  had  made 
us  adepts  in  some  of  the  poor,  pitiful  arts  prisoners 
soon  learn.  We  could  communicate  without  exciting 
the  suspicions  of  the  soldiers,  who  were  sitting  in  the 
very  seats  with  us,  and  scarcely  one  of  our  number  had 
failed  to  so  "settle  himself"  in  the  cotton  ropes  that 
they  could  have  been  thrown  off  at  a  moment's  notice. 
To  be  ready  at  a  signal,  to  dash  out  the  two  lights  that 
burned  in  our  car,  each  of  us  to  seize  the  musket  of  the 
man  nearest  us  while  the  train  was  in  motion,  to  secure 
the  doors,  and  let  no  one  get  out,  or  make  any  alarm, 
seemed  to  me  easy  enough.  Then  we  could  have  un- 
coupled our  car,  and,  with  the  arms  of  our  guard, 
have  started  across  the  country  towards  the  Union 
lines,  which  could  not  have  been  more  than  thirty  or 
forty  miles  west  of  us.  But  George  D.  Wilson  opposed 
the  project  with  all  his  energy.  He  thought  we  might 
succeed,  but  some  would  probably  be  killed  in  the  scuf- 
fle, and  all  might  be  captured  outside,  and  then  our 
case  be  made  much  worse,  while  by  simply  remaining 
quiet,  we  were  sure  of  a  speedy  exchange.  He  had 
talked  for  hours  with  the  captain  of  our  guard,  who 
was  certain  that  our  case  had  been  virtually  decided  in 
our  favor.  He  encouraged  Wilson  by  saying  that  he 
had  heard  officers  high  in  authority  say  that  it  had 
been  necessary  to  execute  Mr.  Andrews,  as  he  was  :i 
Confederate  citizen,  and  as  an  example;  but  that  thi.- 
was  enough,  and  that  no  other  would  suffer  anything 
worse  than  possibly,  if  no  favorable  exchange  could  bo 
arranged,  the  penalty  of  being  kept  to  the  close  of  the 
war.  This,  in  Wilson's  opinion,  was  not  far  distant. 
Wilson's  opposition  made  us  regretfully  yield  the  at- 
tempt. Could  the  future  have  been  foreseen  our  de- 
would  undoubtedly  have  been  reversed. 


220  VAPTUR1KU    A    LOCOMOTHE. 

Atlanta,  we  found,  was  our  destination.  Here,  al- 
most in  the  centre  of  the  rebel  States,  the  Confederates 
were  as  yet  free  from  interruption  by  Union  armies. 
Andrews  had  already  perished  in  this  city,  and  here 
our  own  fate  was  to  be  determined.  As  we  marched, 
with  ropes  bound  tightly  round  our  hands  and  pinion- 
ing our  arms,  from  the  depot  to  the  Atlanta  city  jail,  a 
i-rowd  gathered  around  us,  as  usual,  and  a  man,  calling 
!;imself  the  mayor  of  the  city,  addressed  himself  first 
lo  Captain  Fry,  telling  him  that  he  knew  his  history 
and  would  soon  have  the  pleasure  of  hanging  him. 
Then  turning  to  us,  he  boasted  that  he  had  put  the  rope 
around  Andrews'  neck  and  was  waiting  and  anxious  to 
do  the  same  for  us  1 

The  city  prison  was  much  smaller  than  that  at  Knox- 
vile,  but  was  quite  a  large  edifice.  The  lower  story 
was  occupied  by  the  jailer  and  family.  The  upper 
story  contained  four  rooms,  two  on  each  side  of  an 
entry,  into  which  the  staircase  from  below  led.  We,  in 
company  with  Captain  Fry,  were  given  one  of  these 
rooms.  The  other  Tennesseeans  brought  from  Knox- 
ville  with  us  were  put  into  another,  just  across  the 
entry  from  us.  Our  comrades,  who  had  been  left  be- 
hind at  Chattanooga,  had  been  in  this  building  ever 
since  the  death  of  Andrews,  and  in  the  third  room. 
The  fourth  room  was  on  the  same  side  as  our  own,  and 
had  a  succession  of  occupants, — frequently  negroes  who 
had  been  in  search  of  the  North  Star.  This  jail  was 
to  be  our  home  for  many  eventful  months. 

For  some  days  our  food  was  comparatively  good  and 
abundant.  Turner,  the  jailer,  was  a  kind  man,  and,  in 
a  mild  way,  of  Union  sentiments.  He  showed  us  all 
the  favor  in  his  power,  and,  indeed,  became  so  much 
suspected  that  an  odious  old  man  named  Thoer  wai 
sent  to  watch  him.  The  change  in  our  condition  wa* 
at  once  manifest.  Our  fare  became  worse  and  more 
scanty  than  in  any  former  prison.  The  constant  vigi- 
lance of  this  spy  kept  the  jailer  from  doing  anything 


THE   CROWNING  HORROR.  221 

to  mitigate  our  sufferings.  But  in  this  prison  we  had 
one  great  relief.  Our  ropes  were  removed  and  no 
chains  or  handcuffs  put  upon  us.  Within  our  prison- 
cell  we  were  free.  Here  we  remained  in  quiet  for  a 
week,  thinking  the  worst  of  our  trials  now  over.  Little 
did  we  imagine  how  fearful  a  storm  was  about  to 
burst  over  us. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE  CROWNING   HORROR. 

THE  event  described  in  this  chapter  will  never  be 
effaced  from  the  memory  of  any  witness.  Nothing 
more  terrible  or  more  gratuitously  barbarous  is  recorded 
in  the  annals  of  civilized  war.  The  seven  men  of 
whose  death  I  am  now  to  write  were  all  young, — from 
eighteen  to  twenty-five.  "With  good  prospects,  and 
well  connected,  they  had  entered  the  army  at  the  bid- 
ding of  patriotism,  ready  to  endure  every  peril  to  in- 
sure the  triumph  of  the  old  flag.  Their  only  offence, 
when  stripped  of  all  technicality,  was  that  of  accepting 
a  dangerous  service  proposed  by  their  own  officers. 
They  had  entered  on  this  service  in  the  same  spirit  that 
they  would  have  obeyed  an  order  to  head  a  desperate 
charge  on  the  enemy's  fortifications.  Had  they  perished 
in  the  enterprise  itself,  their  fate  would  have  been  but 
the  common  fortune  of  war.  But  more  than  two 
months  had  passed  since  they  had  been  in  the  power 
of  their  enemies,  who  had  repeatedly  testified  admira- 
tion for  their  heroism,  as  well  as  for  their  gallant  bear- 
ing in  captivity.  Prominent  officers  had  held  friendly 
conversations  with  them  and  assured  them  of  ultimate 

safety.  Now,  without  a  moment's  warning But 

[  must  not  anticipate  the  narration. 

One  day — the  18th  of  June,  1862 — while  amusing 


222  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

ourselves  with  games  and  stories  in  our  prison-cell,  w< 
saw  through  the  barred  window  a  squadron  of  cavalr} 
approaching.  This  only  excited  a  languid  curiosity  at 
first,  for  it  was  a  common  thing  to  see  bodies  of  horse- 
men in  the  streets ;  but  soon  we  saw  them  halt  before 
the  gate  of  the  high  prison-wall  and  throw  a  line  of 
soldiers  completely  round  the  building.  This  was  no 
ordinary  occurrence.  What  could  it  portend  ? 

A  moment  after  we  heard  the  clink  of  the  officers' 
swords  as  they  ascended  the  prison  stairway  in  unusual 
numbers,  while  we  waited  the  event  with  deep  solici- 
tude. They  paused  at  our  door,  which  was  unlocked 
by  the  jailer,  and  the  names  of  the  seven  who  had 
been  tried  at  Knoxville  were  called  ov.er,  one  by  one, 
and  each  man  as  he  was  called  led  out  of  the  room. 
Samuel  Robinson  was  very  sick  with  fever,  and  was 
not  able  to  rise  without  assistance,  but  two  guards 
helped  him  to  his  feet,  and  he  was  taken  out  with  the 
others.  Then  the  door  opposite  to  ours,  on  the  other 
sside  of  the  hall,  was  opened,  and  the  Tennesseeans  in 
that  room  put  with  us,  while  our  comrades,  with  the 
whole  number  of  officers,  went  into  the  vacated  room, 
and  the  door  was  closed. 

With  throbbing  veins  we  asked  one  another  the 
meaning  of  these  strange  proceedings.  A  confused 
sound  was  heard  through  the  closed  door  opposite,  as 
of  some  one  reading,  but  we  could  distinguish  no 
words.  Some  of  us  supposed  they  were  taken  in  there 
to  receive  their  acquittal ;  others,  still  more  sanguine, 
maintained  that  they  were  now  being  paroled,  prepara 
tory  to  an  exchange. 

I  was  also  suffering  with  malarial  fever  at  that  time, 
but  rose  to  my  feet  oppressed  with  a  nameless  fear.  A 
half-idiotic  man  who  was  among  the  Tennessee  prison- 
ers came  to  me  and  wanted  to  play  a  game  of  cards.  I 
struck  the  greasy  pack  out  of  his  hands,  and  bade  him 
leave  me. 

Our  terrible  suspense  was  not  of  long  duration.    The 


THE   CROWNING   HORROR.  223 

door  opened  and  George  D.  Wilson  entered  first,  his 
hands  and  arms  firmly  bound,  and  his  face  pale  as 
death,  but  with  form  erect  and  firm  step.  Some  one 
asked  in  a  whisper  a  solution  of  the  dreadful  mystery, 
for  his  countenance  had  appalled  every  one. 

"We  are  to  be  executed  immediately!"  was  the  awful 
reply,  whispered  with  thrilling  distinctness. 

Behind  him  came  the  others,  all  tied,  ready  for  the 
scaffold  !  They  were  to  be  hanged  at  once.  Not  a  day 
nor  an  hour  was  given  for  preparation.  From  their 
hopefulness  and  fancied  security  they  were  snatched  in 
a  moment  to  die  as  felons !  Surely  no  rule  of  war,  no 
military  necessity,  no  consideration  of  policy,  required 
such  frightful  and  murderous  haste.  I  have  never 
heard  a  word  in  defence  of  this  military  massacre. 
Even  Andrews,  our  leader,  was  given  a  week  for  prep- 
aration before  the  execution  of  his  sentence.  The 
most  atrocious  criminals  are  always  allowed  a  short 
respite.  For  a  long  time  I  cherished  the  belief  that 
some  misunderstanding  of  orders,  some  terrible  error, 
and  not  deliberate  cruelty,  led  to  this  frightful  haste. 
But  the  following  death-sentence  seems  to  leave  no  room 
for  doubt.  In  the  very  centre  of  the  Confederacy, 
with  hundreds  of  troops  at  their  disposal  for  guards, 
there  could  have  been  no  military  necessity  for  hurling 
these  poor  men  into  eternity  without  one  hour's  warn- 
ing! 

The  following  is  a  literal  copy  of  the  death-sentence 
read  to  the  doomed  men  during  the  few  minutes  they 
were  separated  from  us : 

"  HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  EAST  TENNESSEE, 
"  KNOXTILLB,  June  14,  1862. 

"  General  Orders,  No.  64.      VII. 

"  At  a  general  court-martial  held  at  Knoxville  by  virtue  of 
General  Orders  Nos.  21  and  34  (Department  Headquarters,  April 
15  and  May  10,  1862),  whereof  Lieutenant-Colonel  J.  B.  Bibb, 
of  the  Twenty-third  Kegiment  Alabama  Volunteers,  was  presi- 
dent, was  tried  George  D.  Wilson,  private  Company  '  B,'  Second 


224  CAPTURING    A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

Ohio  Rogiment,  on  the  following  charge  and  specifications,  to 
wit: 

"  Charge.— Violation  of  Section  2d  of  the  101st  Article  of  the 
Rules  and  Articles  of  War. 

"Specification  1st. — In  this,  that  the  said  George  D.  Wilson, 
private  Company  '  B,'  Second  Ohio  Regiment,  not  owing  allegi- 
ance to  the  Confederate  States  of  America,  and  being  in  the 
service  and  army  of  the  United  States,  then  and  now  at  war  with 
the  Confederate  States  of  America,  did,  on  or  about  the  7th  day 
of  April,  1862,  leave  the  army  of  the  United  States,  then  lying 
near  Shelbyville,  Tennessee,  and  with  a  company  of  about  twenty 
other  soldiers  of  the  United  States  army,  all  dressed  in  citizen's 
clothes,  repair  to  Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  entering  covertly 
within  the  lines  of  the  Confederate  forces  at  that  post,  and  did 
thus,  on  or  about  the  llth  day  of  April,  1862,  lurk  as  a  spy  in 
and  about  the  encampment  of  said  forces,  representing  himself 
as  a  citizen  of  Kentucky  going  to  join  the  Southern  army. 

"  Specification  2d. — And  the  said  George  D.  Wilson,  private 
Company  '  B,'  Second  Ohio  Regiment,  U.S.A.,  thus  dressed  in 
citizen's  clothes,  and  representing  himself  as  a  citizen  of  Ken- 
tucky going  to  join  the  Southern  army,  and  did  proceed  by  rail- 
road to  Marietta,  Georgia, — thus  covertly  pass  through  the  lines 
of  the  Confederate  forces  stationed  at  Chattanooga,  Dalton,  and 
Camp  McDonald,  and  did  thus,  on  or  about  the  llth  day  of 
April,  1862,  lurk  as  a  spy  in  and  about  the  said  encampments  of 
the  Confederate  forces  at  the  places  stated  aforesaid. 

"  To  which  charge  and  specifications  the  prisoner  plead  '  Not 
Guilty.' 

"  The  court,  after  mature  deliberation,  find  the  accused  as  fol- 
lows :  Of  the  1st  specification  of  the  charge,  '  Guilty.'  Of  the 
2d  specification  of  the  charge,  'Guilty,'  and  'Guilty  of  the 
Charge.'  And  the  court  do  therefore  sentence  the  accused,  the 
said  George  D.  Wilson,  private  Company  '  B,'  Second  Ohio  Regi- 
ment (two-thirds  of  the  members  concurring  therein),  as  soon 
as  this  order  shall  be  made  public,  '  to  be  hung  by  the  neck  until 
he  is  dead.' 

"  The  proceedings  in  the  foregoing  case  of  George  D.  Wilson, 
private  Company  'B,'  Second  Ohio  Regiment,  are  approved. 

"  The  sentence  of  the  court  will  be  carried  into  effect  between 
the  15th  and  22d  days  of  June,  inst.,  at  such  time  and  place  as 
may  be  designated  by  the  commanding  officer  at  Atlanta,  Georgia, 
who  is  charged  with  the  arrangements  for  the  proper  executiop 
thereof 

11  By  command  of 

"  Major-General  E.  KIRBT  SMITH. 

"  J.  P.  BRETON,  A.A.A.G. 
"To  Commanding  Officer  of  post  at  Atlanta,  Ga." 

It  will  be  noticed  that  the  sentence  was  to  be  eie- 


THE  CROWNING   HORROR.  225 

cuted  as  soon  as  made  public.  The  time  fixed  was  be- 
tween the  15th  and  22d  days  of  June.  This  was  the 
18th.  The  sentence  had  been  received  the  preceding 
day,  and  the  time  employed  in  clearing  a  spot  of  wooded 
ground  then  lying  east  of  the  city  cemetery,  but  since 
included  in  its  bounds,  and  in  erecting  a  scaffold  there. 
But  no  word  of  the  awful  preparations  had  been  allowed 
to  reach  us.  According  to  the  orders  of  General  M 
Kirby  Smith,  several  days'  respite  might  have  been  al- 
lowed ;  but  in  a  communication  to  the  Confederate  Sec- 
retary of  War,  Colonel  G.  I.  Foreacre,  post-commander 
at  Atlanta,  says,  "  General  Smith  only  sent  from  Knox- 
ville  instructions  and  orders  to  have  seven  of  them 
hung,  which  was  promptly  attended  to  by  myself." 

After  the  sentences  had  been  read  came  the  farewells, 
— which,  in  their  full  meaning,  we  could  scarcely  rea- 
lize,— farewells  with  no  hope  of  meeting  again  in  this 
world !  Our  comrades  were  dear  as  brothers  to  us,  and 
to  stand  helpless  while  they  were  dragged  away  to  the 
scaffold  froze  our  blood  and  crushed  our  hearts. 

These  doomed  men  were  brave.  On  the  battle-field 
they  had  never  faltered  in  the  presence  of  danger. 
They  were  ready  to  die,  if  need  were,  for  their  country ; 
but  to  die  on  the  scaffold, — to  die  as  murderers  die, — 
this  was  almost  too  much  for  human  nature  to  endure. 

Then,  too,  they  were  destitute  of  the  best  support  a 
man  can  have  in  the  presence  of  death.  Although 
most  of  them  had  been  of  excellent  moral  character, 
yet  they  had  no  firmly-grounded  religious  hope.  The 
near  prospect  of  eternity,  into  which  they  were  thus  to 
be  hurled  without  a  moment's  preparation,  was  black 
and  appalling.  Wilson  had  been  a  professed  disbe- 
liever in  revelation,  and  many  a  time  had  argued  with 
me  for  hours  at  a  time.  But  in  this  awful  moment  he 
said  to  me,  "  Pittenger,  I  believe,  you  are  right  now ! 
Oh,  try  to  be  better  prepared,  when  your  turn  comes  to 
die,  than  I  am  I"  Then  laying  his  hand  on  my  head, 
with  a  muttered  "  God  bless  you !"  we  parted.  I  saw 


226  CAPTURING  A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

no  more  the  one  I  had  loved  and  trusted  as  few  others 
in  the  world. 

Shadrack  was  profane  in  speech  and  reckless  in  ac- 
tion, but  withal  exceeding  kind-hearted,  lovable,  and 
always  merry.  Now  turning  to  us  with  a  voice  the 
forced  calmness  of  which  was  more  affecting  than  a 
wail  of  agony,  he  said,  "  Boys,  I  am  not  prepared  to 
meet  my  Jesus."  When  asked  by  some  of  us,  in  tears, 
to  trust  in  His  mercy,  and  to  think  of  heaven,  he  an- 
swered, still  in  tones  of  thrilling  calmness,  "  I'll  try ! 
I'll  try  !  But  I  know  I  am  not  prepared." 

Samuel  Slavens,  who  was  a  man  ^f  immense  strength 
%nd  iron  resolution,  turned  to  his  riend  Buffum,  and 
could  only  articulate,  "  Wife — children — tell — "  when 
utterance  failed. 

John  Scott  had  been  married  only  three  days  befort 
he  came  to  the  army,  and  the  thought  of  his  young  and 
sorrowing  wife  nearly  drove  him  to  despair.  He  could 
only  clasp  his  hands  in  silent  agony. 

William  Campbell  smiled  grimly  as  we  pressed  his 
bound  hands,  and  said  in  response  to  our  declarations, 
"  Yas,  boys,  this  is  hard." 

Marion  Ross  bore  himself  most  firmly  of  all.  He 
had  been  more  gloomy  and  depressed  than  any  other 
member  of  the  party  previously,  and  did  not  seem  to 
share  fully  in  our  hopes.  Now  his  eyes  beamed  with 
unnatural  light,  and  there  was  not  a  tremor  in  his  voice 
as  he  said,  in  full,  clear  tones,  "  Tell  them  at  home,  if 
any  of  you  should  escape,  that  I  died  for  my  country, 
and  did  not  regret  it." 

These  parting  words  occupied  but  a  moment,  and 
even  then  the  officers  standing  in  the  door  seemed  im- 
patient to  finish  their  horrible  work  ! 

In  this  manner  the  poor  men  were  hurried  to  their 
doom.  Several  of  them,  in  passing,  had  the  privileu< 
of  shaking  hands  with  our  comrades  in  the  other  room 
Robinson,  though  too  sick  to  walk,  was  dragged  aw.-r 
with  them. 


THE   CROWNING   HORROR.  227 

Thus  we  parted.  The  rough  wagon,  with  a  wood- 
rack  for  a  bed,  drove  off  with  our  comrades,  surrounded 
by  cavalry.  In  about  an  hour  it  came  back,  empty. 
The  deed  of  shame  was  done. 

Later  in  the  evening  the  provost-marshal  came  to 
our  door,  and,  in  response  to  eager  questions,  informed 
us  that  our  friends  "  had  met  their  fate  as  brave  men 
should  die  everywhere." 

The  next  day  we  obtained  from  the  guards,  who,  in 
the  absence  of  their  officers,  were  always  willing  to 
talk  with  us,  full  particulars  of  the  sevenfold  murder. 

When  all  had  been  mounted  on  the  scaffold  Wilson 
asked  permission  to  say  a  few  words,  which  was  granted, 
— probably  in  the  hope  of  hearing  some  kind  of  a  con- 
fession. If  such  was  the  expectation,  they  were  much 
disappointed.  It  was  a  strange  scene, — a  dying  speech 
to  a  desperate  audience,  and  under  the  most  terrible 
circumstances  conceivable. 

But  Wilson  was  equal  to  the  occasion,  and  when  he 
had  once  begun  to  speak,  the  force  of  his  words  was 
such  that  the  mob  remained  silent,  making  no  attempt 
to  interrupt  him.  Unterrified  by  the  near  approach 
of  death,  he  spoke  his  mind  freely.  He  told  the  rebels 
that  they  were  all  in  the  wrong,  that  he  had  no  hard 
feelings  towards  the  Southern  people  for  what  they 
were  about  to  do,  because  they  had  been  duped  by  their 
leaders,  and  induced  by  them  to  engage  in  the  work 
of  rebellion.  He  also  said  that  though  he  had  been 
condemned  as  a  spy,  yet  he  was  none,  and  they  well 
knew  it.  He  was  only  a  soldier  in  the  performance 
of  the  work  he  had  been  detailed  to  do ;  that  he  did 
not  regret  to  die  for  his  country,  but  only  regretted  the 
manner  of  his  death.  He  concluded  by  assuring  them 
in  prophetic  words  that  they  would  yet  live  to  regrei 
the  part  they  had  taken  in  this  rebellion,  and  would 
«ee  the  flag  of  our  country  wave  in  triumph  over  the 
very  ground  occupied  by  his  scaffold. 

This  address  made  a  deep  impression  on  the  mind* 


228  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

of  all  who  listened,  and  I  often  afterwards  heard  it 
spoken  of  in  terms  of  deepest  admiration.  When  he 
ceased  the  signal  was  given,  and  the  traps  fell ! 

Then  followed  one  of  the  disgusting  exhibitions 
which  so  often  disgrace  all  kinds  of  public  executions. 
Five  only  remained  dangling  in  the  air.  Campbell 
and  Slavens,  being  very  heavy,  broke  their  ropes,  and 
fell  to  the  ground  insensible.  When  they  revived, 
they  asked  and  received  a  drink  of  water.  Then  they 
requested  an  hour  to  pray  before  entering  r.he  future 
world.  This  most  reasonable  petition,  which  would 
not  have  been  denied  to  the  most  hardened  murderer 
under  civilized  rule,  was  sternly  denied,  as  if  they 
wished  to  do  their  utmost  to  murder  both  soul  and 
body.  As  soon  as  the  ropes  could  be  readjusted  they 
were  compelled  to  mount  the  scaffold  once  more,  and 
were  again  turned  off. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

PRISON    RELIGION. 

THE  afternoon  following  the  execution  of  our  brave 
comrades  was  one  of  indescribable  sorrow,  gloom,  and 
fear.  We  knew  not  how  soon  we  might  be  compelled 
to  follow  in  the  same  path  and  drink  the  same  bitter 
cup.  As  has  been  before  narrated,  we  had  offered  at 
Knoxville  to  accept  the  award  of  the  court  in  one  of 
the  cases  as  the  sentence  of  all,  since  there  was  not  the 
slightest  difference  among  us.  At  that  time,  however, 
we  were  confident  of  acquittal.  Now  that  confidence 
had  utterly  vanished,  and  no  one  of  our  number  antici- 
pated anything  but  speedy  death  on  the  scaffold. 

But  even  without  the  addition  of  apprehension  for 
ourselves,  the  parting  from  our  loved  friends,  whose 
voices  were  still  ringing  in  our  ears,  while  ti;ev  them- 


PRISON  RELIGION.  229 

selves  had  passed  beyond  the  gates  of  death  into  the 
unknown  land  of  shadows,  was  enough  to  rend  the 
stoutest  heart.  Few  words  were  spoken,  but  tears  and 
sobs  were  frequent. 

I  could  not  shed  a  tear.  A  fierce  fever  burned  in 
my  veins,  and  my  head  seemed  as  if  on  fire.  For 
hours  I  scarcely  knew  where  I  was,  or  the  loss  I  had 
sustained.  Every  glance  around  the  room,  which  re- 
vealed the  vacant  place  of  our  friends,  would  bring 
our  sorrow  in  a  new  wave  upon  us  again.  Slowly  the 
afternoon  wore  on  in  grief  too  deep  for  words,  and 
despair  too- black  for  hope. 

At  last  some  voice  suggested  prayer.  We  had  no 
chaplain,  and  few  of  us  were  professedly  religious,  but 
the  very  thought  of  prayer  seemed  to  bring  relief,  and 
was  eagerly  accepted.  We  knelt  around  the  bare 
prison-walls,  as  so  many  prisoners  have  done  before, 
and  tried  to  draw  near  to  God.  We  felt  as  if  already 
cut  off  from  the  world.  Captain  Fry  first  prayed 
aloud.  His  voice  was  broken  by  sobs,  but  he  did  not 
now  pray  for  the  first  time,  and  we  felt  our  faith  lean- 
ing on  his  as  he  poured  out  strong  supplications  for 
that  Almighty  help  we  so  sorely  needed.  He  prayed 
that  God's  love  might  be  revealed  to  us,  and  that  we 
might  be  able  to  trust  the  Saviour  even  on  the  gallows 
When  he  ceased  another  took  up  the  thread  of  petition 
After  him,  another  and  another  followed,  until  all  but 
two  had  prayed  aloud,  and  even  these  were  kneeling 
and  sobbing  with  the  rest.  As  the  twilight  deepened 
our  devotional  exercises  grew  more  solemn.  In  the 
lonely  shadow  of  coming  .night,  with  eternity  thus 
tangibly  open  before  us,  and  standing  on  its  very 
brink,  we  prayed  with  inconceivable  fervor.  These 
exercises  continued  far  into  the  night,  and  wrought 
their  effect  deeply  in  our  hearts.  From  that  night  I 
recognized  God's  right  tc  tiy  allegiance.  I  did  accept 
Christ  as  my  Saviour,  and  determined  to  confess  His 
name  before  men,  whether  I  lived  or  died.  This  reso- 

90 


230  CAPTURING  A   LOCOMOTIVE 

lution  in  my  own  case — and  I  doubt  not  the  same  re- 
sult was  produced  in  other  hearts — restored  the  forti- 
tude that  had  been  so  rudely  shaken,  and  I  felt  nerved 
for  any  fate.  Strangely  enough,  with  this  resignation 
to  the  worst  came  the  glimmer  of  a  hope,  unfelt  befcre, 
that  possibly  life  might  yet  be  spared. 

This  hour  wrought  a  complete  and  permanent  change 
in  the  routine  of  our  prison-life.  Games,  sports,  and 
stories  were  no  longer  our  leading  pursuits.  The  cards 
we  had  been  accustomed  to  play  for  pastime  only — an 
old  greasy  pack  obtained  from  the  compassion  of  some 
soldier  on  guard — were  thrown  out  of  the  window,  and 
that  game  given  up  forever.  Each  morning  and  each 
evening  we  had  a  prayer-meeting, — not  simply  a  single 
prayer,  but  all  praying  in  turn.  We  asked  for  and 
obtained  a  Bible  from  the  jailer,  and  read  a  chapter  01 
more  as  part  of  our  exercises,  and  sang  hymns,  so  thai 
our  meetings  became  as  much  like  those  we  had  wit- 
nessed in  the  distant  but  never  forgotten  days  of  freedom 
as  we  could  make  them.  There  was  wonderful  pathos  in 
the  very  rudeness  of  the  singing,  for  our  sweetest  voicet 
were  silent  in  death.  The  remark  was  often  made. 
"If  Ross  was  only  here  to  lead  the  singing!"  Tht 
one  who  read  the  Bible  lesson  was  considered  the  leadei 
of  the  meeting,  and,  for  a  time,  we  took  this  position 
by  turns.  In  place  of  "  Do  they  miss  me  at  Home  ?' 
we  sang  the  more  inspiring  and  helpful  "  Jesus,  Lovei 
of  my  Soul,"  and  "  Rock  of  Ages."  The  jailer,  the 
guards,  and  all  who  came  near  the  prison  noticed  the 
great  change. 

I  had  one  peculiar  difficulty  which,  to  many  readers, 
will  appear  almost  whimsical,  but  to  me  was  most  real. 
Our  hope  of  ever  regaining  liberty,  or  even  preserv- 
ing our  lives  much  longer,  was  but  slight;  yet  my 
greatest  difficulty  in  finding  satisfactory  religious  con- 
solation had  reference  to  a  possible  release.  I  had  been 
a  diligent  law  student,  and  had  managed  tc  continue 
the  study  even  in  the  army  and  in  prison.  *tut  now  it 


PRISON  RELIGION.  231 

was  impressed  upon  my  mind,  with  daily  increasing 
force,  that  I  must  submit  the  decision  of  my  future 
career  to  God.  If  I  took  this  matter  into  my  own 
hands,  I  could  not  feel  that  I  was  completely  true  to 
Him.  Underlying  this  feeling  was  the  further  con- 
viction that  if  I  made  such  a  submission  of  my  future 
profession  to  God  I  would  be  led  into  the  ministry,  and 
the  thought  of  this  was  very  repulsive.  Yet  the  longer 
the  struggle  continued  the  plainer  duty  became.  \f  I 
gave  myself  to  Christ,  ^it  seemed  a  necessary  consequence 
that  I  should  accept  any  work  He  gave  me  to  do.  If 
1  feared  that  He  would  guide  mo  in  a  certain  direction, 
this  was  sure  proof  that  I  was  not  resigned  to  His  will, 
aud,  according  to  my  views,  not  a  true  Christian.  At 
last  the  choice  was  made, — I  resolved  to  follow  my 
sense  of  duty,  no  matter  where  that  should  lead, — to 
the  ministry  or  anywhere  else.  When  this  conflict  was 
over  there  was  no  great  emotional  excitement,— only  a 
sense  of  peace  and  rest.  I  could  wait  calmly  in  the 
prison  until  led  forth  to  die,  if  such  should  be  my 
doom,  and  then  go  forth  out  of  life  feeling  that  I  was 
loyal  to  God,  and  that  I  should  remain  His,  into  what- 
ever worlds  the  gate  of  death  should  open.  If,  con- 
trary to  all  probability,  the  prison-gate  should  open  for 
my  passage  back  into  the  free  world,  from  which  I 
seemed  almost  as  effectually  separated  as  if  death  had 
already  intervened,  I  promised  still  to  be  loyal  to  Him. 
This  was  the  essence  of  the  inward  change  I  date  from 
that  time.  My  standard  of  action  before  had  been 
pleasure,  inclination,  the  world's  notion  of  honor  and 
morality.  Even  this  had  not  been  held  too  strictly,  as 
the  reader  of  these  pages  has  discovered.  But  after- 
wards, however  imperfectly  maintained,  my  standard 
became  the  will  of  God,  as  revealed  in  the  Bible,  and 
my  own  sense  of  duty  as  enlightened  by  His  Spirit. 
No  great  joy,  such  as  is  often  expressed  in  conversion, 
came  at  first.  But  it  was  even  better  than  any  joy  to 
feel  that  I  now  had  a  strong  arm  upon  which  I  could 


232  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

lean, — that  there  was  one  person  to  whom  I  could  g\ 
at  any  time,  and  who  was  not  indifferent  to  my  fate. 

I  now  read  the  Bible  with  a  clear  purpose,  and  with 
a  light  on  its  pages  that  never  before  beamed  there.  Its 
very  history  was  full  of  new  meaning.  Its  grand  be- 
ginning, the  growth  of  wandering  tribes  into  great  em- 
pires, the  pathos  of  the  Psalms,  the  sublimity  and  eternal 
hope  of  the  prophecies,  and,  above  all,  the  life  and  death 
of  that  loving  and  lowly  man  who  was  greater  than 
Psalmist  or  Prophet, — all  these  passed  before  me  in  the 
old  Atlanta  jail,  until  the  place  seemed  like  a  new  isle  of 
Patmos.  I  had  a  strong  bent  towards  scepticism,  though 
I  had  not  yielded  to  it,  and  found  it  hard  to  exercise  sim- 
ple faith  in  all  the  Word  of  God.  But,  little  by  little,  my 
doubts  became  weaker  and  my  conviction  of  truth  clearer. 

For  a  considerable  tune  the  whole  of  our  party  took 
turns  in  the  leadership  of  our  devotions,  but  finally 
this  work  devolved  on  the  writer,  and,  after  some 
months,  the  guards  and  other  prisoners  began  to  cal' 
me  the  "  preacher,"  though,  as  yet,  I  was  a  member  of 
no  church,  unless  our  prison  band  can  be  dignified  by 
that  title. 

Two  Southern  ministers  visited  us  at  this  perio.1. 
The  first  requested  permission  of  the  guard,  and  was 
allowed  to  enter  with  the  express  provision  that  his 
conversation  should  be  confined  to  religious  topics. 
His  name  was  Scott,  but  I  am  not  sure  what  denomi- 
nation he  belonged  to,  and  his  conversation  gave  no 
clue.  His  first  question  did  not  contribute  to  a  good 
understanding.  He  asked  how  we  could  be  so  wicked 
as  to  enter  the  Federal  army,  to  fight  against  the  Soutl  - 
ern  people  and  free  their  negroes?  We  were  soriy 
enough  about  many  things,  but  had  not  yet  repented 
of  those  particular  sins,  and  therefore  answered  a  little 
tartly,  by  asking  how  he  and  his  friends  could  be  so 
wicked  as  to  rebel  against  a  good  government?  A 
heated  dispute  followed.  Our  visitor  talked  so  loudly 
and  vehemently  that  the  officer  of  the  guard  entered 


PRISON  RELIGION.  233 

and  told  him  that  he  "  had  given  those  men  religious 
counsel  enough  for  one  time  and  had  better  leave."  He 
never  came  again,  and  we  were  not  sorry. 

Our  jailer,  Mr.  Turner,  had  a  very  kindly  feeling 
towards  us,  and  hearing  us  so  often  singing  and  praying, 
asked  if  we  would  not  like  to  talk  with  a  minister. 
Knowing  that  ministers  were  not  all  alike,  we  assented. 
Rev.  Gecrge  G.  N.  MacDonell,  of  the  M.  E.  Church 
South,  then  visited  us.  We  were  glad  to  see  him,  and 
a  very  profitable  conversation  took  place.  A  little 
offence  was  occasioned  by  his  first  prayer,  in  which  he 
petitioned  that  our  lives  might  be  spared,  if  consistent 
with  the  interests  of  the  Confederacy.  But  we  made  no 
comment,  and  were  richly  rewarded  for  our  com- 
placency. He  not  only  gave  us  Christian  sympathy 
and  counsel  above  all  value,  but  on  leaving  sent  us 
some  excellent  books.  When  the  first  lot  of  books  was 
finished — of  which  we  took  the  best  of  care,  reading 
mos,t  of  them  aloud — we  returned  them,  and  received 
others, — continuing  the  process  of  borrowing  until  we 
had  perused  nearly  the  whole  of  the  good  man's 
library.  Only  those  who  know  what  a  terrible  trial 
it  is  to  pass  day  after  day  with  no  definite  employ- 
ment, no  company,  and  no  means  of  diverting  thought 
from  one  never-ending  round,  can  form  any  idea  of  the 
great  boon  thus  bestowed  upon  us.  The  Christian 
kindness  and  disinterested  benevolence  of  this  min- 
ister will  never  be  forgotten.  But  even  these  books 
were  not  sufficient.  I  sold  my  vest — not  expecting 
to  live  until  cold  weather — and  my  pocket-book, — 
which  my  captors  had  left  when  they  took  all  its  con- 
tents,— and  with  the  proceeds  the  jailer  bought  me 
three  little  .books — all  gems, — "  Paradise  Lost,  "  Pil- 
grim's Progress,"  and  Pollok's  "  Course  of  Time." 
These  I  deliberately  set  to  work  to  memorize.  It  was 
a  pleasant  and  profitable  employment,  helping  very 
much  to  shorten  those  interminable  days. 

Our  room  was  of  greater  size  than  that  in  Chatta- 


234  CAPTURING  A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

aooga ;  the  windows  larger,  and  our  number  reduced ; 
yet  the  heat  was  fearfully  oppressive.  One  of  the 
party,  Mark  Wood,  was  very  sick.  He  had  been  pros- 
trated with  fever  for  nearly  a  month,  and  at  this  time 
his  life  was  despaired  of.  This  was  not  thought  by  the 
others  to  be  any  great  misfortune  to  him,  and  they  ac- 
,:ordingly  administered  consolation  in  a  style  worthy 
die  best  of  Job's  friends.  They  would  say,  "Now, 
Wood,  I  wouldn't  try  to  get  well,  if  I  were  in  your 
place.  They  will  only  hang  you  if  you  do.  Better 
try  to  die  and  save  them  the  trouble."  Wood,  how- 
ever, did  not  relish  this  counsel,  and,  becoming  con- 
trary, he  recovered,  "just  for  spite,"  as  he  often  de- 
clared. 

The  black  waiters  of  the  prison  were  very  friendly. 
They  assisted  us  by  every  means  in  their  power,  and 
seemed  willing  to  take  any  personal  risk  on  our  behalf. 
It  was  not  long  before  they  found  that  we  desired  few 
things  so  much  as  to  read  the  news,  and  they  tasked 
their  ingenuity  to  gratify  us.  Newspapers  were  pro- 
hibited, as  they  had  not  been  at  Knoxville.  But  the 
waiters  would  watch  until  the  jailer  or  some  of  the 
guard  had  finished  reading  a  paper  and  laid  it  down, 
when  they  would  slyly  purloin  it,  put  it  into  the 
bottom  of  the  pan  in  which  our  food  was  brought, 
and  thus  hand  it  to  us  unsuspected.  It  had  to  be  re- 
turned in  the  same  way  to  avoid  suspicion.  Our  min- 
isterial friend  also,  as  he  acquired  confidence  in  us, 
gave  us  reason  to  think  that  he  was  not  so  much  de- 
voted to  the  Confederacy  as  his  first  prayer  (made 
in  hearing  of  the  guard)  indicated.  He  asked  per- 
mission of  the  jailer  to  give  us  some  old  files  of  re- 
ligious papers,  and  sent  in  a  bundle  weekly,  or  oftener. 
They  were  acceptable,  but  their  value  greatly  increased 
when  we  found  that  an  old  religious  paper  might  have 
a  new  daily  folded  carefully  inside!  These  acts  of 
friendship  were  deeply  grateful  to  us,  and  lightened 
many  a  weary  hour. 


PRISON   RELIGION.  236 

One  morning  our  jailer  crime  to  our  door  and  asked 
if  we  knew  John  Wollam.  We  wore  startled,  and 
hesitated  to  answer.  For  three  weeks  we  had  heard 
nothing  of  Wollaru,  and  hoped  (hat  one  member  of  our 
devoted  band  had  escaped.  Now  we  knew  that  the 
jailer  was  in  possession  of  some  news,  and  while  we 
burned  to  hear  it,  we  feared  the  possibility  of  doing 
Wollam  an  injury  by  acknowledging  the  acquaintance. 
But  while  we  deliberated  John  himself  came  up,  and 
put  an  end  to  our  doubts  by  greeting  us  heartily.  The 
door  was  unlocked,  and  he  entered.  All  the  survivors 
of  our  party  were  now  together,  as  those  who  had  been 
separated  from  us  at  Chattanooga  were  put  into  our 
room  immediately  after  the  execution  of  our  comrades. 
Our  number,  including  Captain  Fry,  who  remained  in 
our  room,  was  fifteen. 

The  first  thing  in  order,  when  left  alone,  was  for 
John  to  tell  us  all  his  adventures  from  the  time  he  and 
Andrews  had  broken  out  of  the  Chattanooga  dungeon. 
He  was  fired  upon  while  still  suspended  in  the  air  by 
the  blankets  upon  which  he  was  descending,  but  for- 
tunately the  hands  of  the  guards  were  too  unsteady  to 
inflict  any  injury.  He  succeeded  in  getting  safely  to 
»he  ground,  and  then  out  of  the  prison-yard  and  through 
lie  guard-line. 

In  his  efforts  to  escape  Wollam  displayed  qualities 
jdiich  would  have  done  credit  to  an  Indian.  A  few 
moments'  running  brought  him  down  to  the  river-side 
in  advance  of  all  pursuers.  Finding  no  means  of 
crossing,  the  brilliant  thought  struck  him  of  making 
his  enemies  believe  he  had  crossed.  This  idea  was  in- 
stantly acted  on.  He  threw  off  his  coat  and  vest, 
dropping  them  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  and  then 
walked  a  few  rods  in  the  water  to  throw  any  hounds 
that  might  be  following  off  his  track.  He  next  slipped 
quietly  back  and  hid  in  a  dense  thicket  of  canes  and 
rushes.  He  heard  his  pursuers  on  the  bank  above  him, 
and  all  around,  talking  of  their  various  plans.  At  last 


236  CAPTURING  A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

they  found  the  clothes,  and  at  once  concluded  that  lie 
had  taken  to  the  river.  Accordingly  they  ferried  the 
blood-hounds  to  the  other  side,  and  searched  for  the 
place  of  his  exit  from  the  water.  As  might  be  ex- 
pected, the  dogs  were  unable  to  find  that,  and  after  a 
due  time  spent  in  consultation,  the  Confederates  con- 
cluded that  he  had  been  drowned  and  gave  over  the 
search. 

Wollam  spent  the  day  in  great  anxiety,  but  night 
gave  him  the  opportunity  of  leaving  his  hiding-place. 
He  made  his  way  cautiously  down  the  river  on  the 
Chattanooga  side  for  some  miles.  At  length  he  found 
a  canoe,  in  which  he  drifted  down  the  stream  by  night, 
while  hiding  it  and  himself  in  the  bushes  by  day.  On 
two  occasions  he  would  have  been  saved  if  he  had  only 
known  it.  General  Mitchel  had  captured  a  steam- 
boat and  fitted  it  up  as  a  cruiser,  with  which  he  patrolled 
the  river  as  far  as  his  lines  extended.  In  his  night- 
voyaging  Wollam  passed  this  extemporized  gunboat 
twice,  but  fearing  that  it  was  some  rebel  craft,  he  crept 
quietly  by  in  the  shadow  of  the  shore  without  discovery. 

At  length  he  felt  sure  that  he  was  inside  the  Union 
lines,  and  beyond  the  probable  danger  of  capture, 
and  therefore  ventured  boldly  forward  in  the  daytime. 
This  was  a  fatal  mistake.  The  danger  of  capture  is 
never  so  great  as  in  the  debatable  ground  between  two 
armies,  where  both  exercise  their  utmost  vigilance. 
This  boundary  in  most  cases  is  also  a  shifting  one.  It 
was  so  in  this  instance.  A  band  of  rebel  cavalry  on  the 
shore  saw  the  lonely  voyager,  and,  riding  on  ahead,  pro- 
cured a  boat  and  came  out  to  meet  him.  He  was  un- 
able to  escape,  and  thus  the  poor  fellow  was  captured  o* 
the  very  brink  of  safety.  As  usual,  he  tried  to  persuad* 
them  that  he  was  a  Confederate,  but  unfortunately  & 
certain  Lieutenant  Edwards,  who  had  assisted  in  his 
previous  capture,  happened  to  be  present,  and  at  once 
recognized  him 'by  his  bold  and  reckless  bearing.  He 
was  then  taken  to  join  us  at  Atlanta. 


PRISON  RELIGION.  237 

Our  provisions  here  became  worse  and  less,  until  the 
starvation  point  was  very  nearly  reached.  Constant 
hunger  was.  one  of  the  torments  of  our  life.  We  only 
received  a  very  small  fragment  of  half-baked  corn- 
bread,  without  salt,  and  a  morsel  of  pork, — the  lattei 
always  spoiled,  and  frequently  covered  with  maggots. 
But  none  of  it  was  wasted  !  Several  had  very  little 
appetite,  because  of  malarial  or  intermittent  fever. 
The  allowance  of  such  food  was  abundant  for  these, 
but  the  others  ate  all  that  the  sick  spared.  Many  a 
Barmecide  feast  was  spread  by  the  description  of  rich 
dainties  that  would  be  enjoyed  if  "  at  home"  once  more ; 
and  what  was  even  worse,  the  same  banquets  would 
be  spread  in  dreams,  from  which  the  tantalized  sleep- 
ers awoke  more  hungry  and  miserable  than  ever.  I 
am  not  sure  that  the  aching  head  and  burning  fev^T 
were  more  painful  than  the  constant  pangs  of  unsatis- 
fied hunger.  However,  I  need  not  linger  over  these 
details.  In  the  mere  matter  of  starving  I  presume  we 
suffered  no  more  than  thousands  of  our  fellow-soldiers 
in  Andersonville  and  other  prisons.  Alfred  Wilson, 
whose  iron  constitution  bore  up  well  under  all  hard- 
ships, and  whose  appetite  was  always  good  enough  for 
all  the  rations  of  every  kind  he  could  get,  felt  these 
privations  most  keenly.  He  says  of  the  food  that  it  was 
u  almost  enough  to  convulse  the  stomach  of  a  hungry 
dog.  I  have  found  by  experience,  and  I  think  I  will 
be  corroborated  by  all  the  men  who  have  been  in  rebel 
prisons  and  have  suffered  the  protracted  pangs  of  hunger 
and  starvation,  that  man,  when  forced  to  it,  is  as  raven- 
ous, reckless,  unreasonable,  and  brutish  in  his  appetite 
as  the  lowest  order  of  animal  creation."  In  other 
orisons,  it  was  not  uncommon  for  the  inmates  to  fight 
over  their  miserable  allowance ;  but  our  common  sym- 
pathy and  discipline  were  so  strong  that  few  disputes 
arose,  and  these  were  quickly  settled  by  the  general 
voice.  The  religious  influence  that  had  grown  up 
in  our  midst  also  tended  powerfully  to  prevent  «ar 


238  CAPTURING  A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

interference  of  the   stronger  with    the  rights  of  the 
weaker. 

Indeed,  the  completeness  of  our  voluntary  discipline 
and  the  systematic  manner  in  which  we  employed  our 
time  was  little  less  than  marvellous.  To  sleep  was 
always  in  order,  when  possible,  but  the  disposal  of 
waking  hours  was  not  left  to  the  will  of  each  person. 
The  only  game  permitted  was  that  of  checkers  or  drafts, 
and  over  the  rude  board  carved  on  the  floor  eager  play- 
ers bent  during  all  the  hours  allotted  to  amuseLieut. 
Then  we  had  a  couple  of  hours  daily  for  debating,  awd 
discussed  questions  of  every  kind.  No  little  ingenuity 
and  skill  were  thus  exercised.  Often  great  poli'tiod 
questions  occupied  our  attention,  and  evoked  real  aivd 
string  differences  of  opinion.  Strange  as  it  may  afeu, 
L.ere  were  but  two  of  us — Buffum  and  myself-  -\vl«o 
avowed  ourselves  out  and  out  abolitionists.  The  aame 
had  not  yet  lost  all  its  reproach,  but  we  held  oui  o\\  & 
in  argument,  especially  when  we  pointed  out  the  natural 
result  of  slavery  in  making  men  barbarous  and  in- 
human even  to  whites,  as  illustrated  in  our  coud  tiou 
That  argument  never  failed  to  give  us  the  advantage ! 

We  also  set  aside  two  hours  in  the  forenoon  and  tw ; 
111  the  afternoon  for  reading.  During  this  time  n  t  K 
much  as  a  whisper  was  permitted,  and  few  schools  fruve 
kept  better  discipline.  Any  one  not  wishing  to  read 
was  permitted  to  sleep  or  occupy  himself  in  any  quiet 
manner.  Frequently  some  one  was  selected  to  read 
aloud  for  a  time,  but  this  only  took  place  by  general 
consent,  that  those  who  wished  to  read  silently  i  night 
be  undisturbed.  The  extraordinary  character  of  these 
exercises  will  be  better  appreciated  when  it  is  remem- 
bered that  we  had  no  "light  reading,"  but  mainly  the- 
ological works,  with  a  few  volumes  of  travels,  liogra- 
phy,  and  poetry, — just  what  the  good  minister's  library 
could  furnish,  for  we  read  everything  we  could  get. 
The  Bible  was  not  forgotten.  When  the  supply  of 
books  ran  short,  we  resorted  to  our  memories.  All  the 


PRISON  RELIGION.  239 

prominent  incidents  of  our  lives  had  been  told  in  our 
terribly  close  association,  and  we  next  began  to  repeat 
for  the  common  benefit  the  books  we  had  read  so  far  as 
we  could  remember  them.  One  night  about  dark  I 
began  to  tell  something  about  a  weird  book  I  had  read 
a  few  months  previously.  A  few  questions  elicited 
fuller  detail,  and  it  was"  after  midnight  before  the  story 
was  finished.  Buffum,  especially,  was  so  deeply  im- 
pressed that  when  released  he  took  the  earliest  oppor- 
tunity of  getting  and  reading  the  volume,  but  he  gave 
me  a  great  compliment  by  saying  that  the  original  was 
not  half  so  good  as  the  copy.  The  changed  circum- 
stances, perhaps,  made  a  more  natural,  if  Jess  flattering, 
explanation  of  his  diminished  interest.  We  also  had 
our  regular  hours  for  gymnastic  exercise, — wrestling, 
boxing,  acrobatic  feats,  etc.  One  of  our  p*u*ty,  Haw- 
kins, having  once  been  connected  with  a  circus,  now 
trained  us  in  all  the  exercises  that  our  enfeebled  con- 
dition and  close  quarters  permitted.  Much  of  the 
health  and  vigor  that  we  retained  during  so  long  an 
imprisonment  was  due  to  our  systematic  and  diversi^ed 
employments. 

This  careful  division  of  time,  and  endeavor  after 
constant  employment,  was,  doubtless,  of  great  advan- 
tage, but  it  could  not  change  the  fact  that  we  were  close 
prisoners  in  a  stifling  room,  and  far  from  our  home. 
Those  summer  days,  as  month  after  month  glided  away, 
were  terribly  long  and  oppressive.  The  tediousness  and 
vain  longing  for  action  pressed  upon  us  more  and  more 
closely.  We  fought  the  dreadful  weight  with  all  the 
strength  of  our  wills,  but  even  will-power  grew  feebler. 
The  engineer  Brown,  who  was  one  of  the  most  restlest 
of  mortals,  all  nerve  and  fire  in  action,  capable  of  en- 
during tremendous  hardship  if  it  were  only  of  an  active 
character,  would  pace  the  floor  back  and  forth  like  a 
caged  tiger ;  when  this,  too,  grew  unendurable,  h« 
would  stop  at  the  door,  shake  its  woven  iron  bars  till 
they  rang  again,  and  say  in  the  most  piteous  tones  (of 


240  CAPTURING  A  LOCOMOTIVE. 

course,  meant  only  for  us  to  hear),  "Oh,  kind  sir, 
let  me  out!  I  want  to  go  home! "  The  feeling  he 
expressed  was  shared  by  all.  Never  before  could 
I  realize  the  full  value  of  liberty  and  the  horror  of 
confinement.  In  previous  prisons  the  novelty  of 
our  situation,  the  frequent  removals,  the  painful 
excitement  of  trials,  prevented  the  blank  monotony 
of  imprisonment  from  settling  down  upon  us  as  it 
did  here,  after  the  first  few  weeks  of  our  stay  in 
Atlanta  rolled  by,  and  no  whisper  regarding  our 
probable  fate  reached  us.  It  was  like  the  stillness 
and  death  that  brood  over  the  Dead  Sea! 

We  would  sit  at  the  windows  in  the  sultry  noon 
and  look  out  through  the  bars  at  the  free  birds  as 
they  flew  past,  seemingly  so  full  of  joyous  life,  and 
foolishly  wish  that  we  were  birds,  that  we,  toe, 
might  fly  far  away  and  be  free. 

At  long  intervals,  two  of  us  at  a  time  would  be  per- 
mitted to  go  down  into  the  jail  yard  to  do  some 
washing  for  ourselves  and  the  party.  This  great 
privilege  came  around  to  me.  at  last.  It  was  then 
three  months  since  I  had  stepped  out  of  that  prison 
room,  and  the  unobscured  vision  of  open  air  and  sky 
made  it  seem  like  another  world.  I  remember  look- 
ing up  at  the  snowy  clouds,  my  eyes  dazzled  by  the 
unusual  light,  and  wondering,  as  I  gazed  in  admir- 
ation upon  their  beautiful  and  changing  forms, 
whether  beyond  them  lay  a  world  of  rest  in  which 
there  was  neither  wars  nor  prisons.  Oh!  how  I 
longed  for  freedom!  to  be  where  I  could  look  up  at 
the  sky  every  day  and  go  where  I  wished!  Yet 
with  the  thought  came  a  great  fear.  If  I  was  ever 
removed  from  the  presence  ofimmediatedangerand 
allowed  to  mingle  in  ihe  interest  and  cares  of  the 
thronging  world  might  I  not  forget  my  prison-made 
vows  and  lose  my  claim,  to  the  world  beyond  the 
clouds  and  stars?  Such  a  sense  of  weakness  and 
helplessness  came  over  me  that  I  felt  greatly  re- 
lieved when,  my  task  being  done,  I  was  conducted 


PRISON  RELIGION.  241 

back  to  the  dark  and  narrow  prison  room,  where  the 
contrast  between  freedom  and  bondage  was  less  palpa- 
ble ! 

All  this  time  we  hardly  permitted  ourselves  to  in- 
dulge a  hope  of  getting  home  again.  The  friends  we 
had  known  in  happier  days  were  separated  from  us  by 
an  impassable  gulf;  and  when  fancy  called  round  us 
Hie  loved  scenes  and  friends  at  home,  it  was  like  tread- 
ing upon  forbidden  ground.  But  when  the  long  day 
had  dragged  its  hours  away,  when  we  were  weary  with 
fighting  against  weariness,  the  night  removed  every  re- 
straint, and  for  a  few  golden  hours  love  and  freedom 
were  ours  again. 

Often  in  dreams  have  I  seen  the  streets  and  build- 
ings of  my  own  town  rise  before  me,  and  have  felt  a 
thrilling  pleasure  in  contemplating  each  feature  of  the 
landscape  around  as  I  wended  my  way  in  fancy  towards 
the  old  log  cabin  forever  consecrated  by  affection.  But 
the  waking  from  such  dreams  of  earthly  paradise  was 
sad  beyond  measure.  The  evening  hour,  when  the 
burning  heat  had  abated,  and  when  we  were  settling  to 
rest, — though  it  was  on  the  bare  floor,  and  without  even 
a  stone  like  that  upon  which  Jacob  pillowed  his  head, 
— was  our  happiest  time.  Then  prayer  and  song  and 
more  cheerful  conversation  prepared  us  for  rest  and 
often  for  happy  dreams.  But  the  morning  hours,  when 
we  wakened,  hungry,  sore,  unrefreshed,  with  no  food 
but  our  miserable  bit  of  vile  bread  and  spoiled  meat, 
and  a  long  day  to  look  forward  to, — these  were  always 
dreary.  After  prayers,  and  our  apology  for  a  break- 
fast, we  grew  more  cheerful,  and  again  took  up  the 
task  of  living. 

An  anecdote  here  will  fitly  illustrate  the  affection  and 
exaggerated  reverence  felt  for  what  we,  to  the  great 
annoyance  of  the  guards  and  citizens,  persisted  in  call- 
ing "  God's  country."  I  had  been  reading  aloud  a  ser- 
mon of  Bishop  Bascom's,  from  a  book  loaned  us  by 
our  friend,  the  minister.  The  topic  was  "  The  Joys  of 
v  21 


242  CAPTURING  A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

Heaven."  All  listened  with  delight  to  his  magnificent 
descriptions,  but  when  the  reading  closed,  engineer 
Brown,  who  was  of  a  matter-of-fact  disposition,  asked, 
"  Now,  candidly,  boys,  would  you  rather  be  in  heaven, 
safe  from  all  harm,  if  it  is  as  good  as  the  preacher  says, 
or  be  in  Cincinnati  ?"  This  roused  a  very  animated 
discussion,  but  at  its  conclusion,  when  we  took  a  vote 
on  the  subject,  the  majority  decided,  honestly,  no  doubt, 
that  they  would  rather  be  in  Cincinnati, — for  a  while, 
at  least ! 

The  expedients  to  which  the  tobacco-chewers  of  our 
party  were  driven  to  obtain  a  supply  of  "  the  weed" 
were  at  once  amusing  and  pathetic.  They  were  even 
more  eager  for  it  than  for  their  food.  They  begged 
from  the  negroes,  jailer,  guards,  visitors, — anybody 
who  could  supply  the  valued  article.  The  little  they 
got  was  husbanded  with  the  utmost  care.  One  chew- 
ing was  not  sufficient.  No  "  quids"  were  thrown  away, 
but  carefully  laid  up,  dried,  and  again  used.  When 
no  more  narcotic  could  be  so  extracted,  they  were  once 
more  dried  and  smoked  in  cob  pipes ! 

When  Andrews  broke  out  of  the  Chattanooga  jail, 
he  gave  Hawkins  a  large,  fine  coat,  which  was  too 
heavy  to  be  carried.  This  was  now  sold  to  the  jailer, 
and  the  proceeds  furnished  quite  a  treat  of  provisions. 

We  found  some  diversion  in  opening  secret  commu- 
nication with  every  room  in  the  prison.  Those  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  entry  were  reached  by  means  of  a 
small  stick,  which  was  shot  from  the  crack  under  one 
door  1 :>  the  corresponding  crack  under  the  other.  Each 
door  was  double, — one  thickness  of  heavy  wood,  which 
was  shut  only  at  night,  and  precluded  all  communica- 
tion ;  the  other  of  light  iron  bars.  A  string  tied  to  the 
stick  pulled  over  any  message  we  might  desire  to  send. 
Between  our  room  and  the  other  on  the  same  side  of 
the  hall  there  was  an  unused  chimney,  into  which 
stove-pipes  led  on  each  side.  By  removing  the  elbows 
we  could  talk  through,  but  there  was  the  danger  of 


PRISON  RELIGION.  243 

being  overheard.  To  remedy  that,  a  long  lath  was 
forced  off  the  side  of  our  room  in  such  a  way  that  it 
could  be  put  back  again  when  desired,  and  this  was 
used  in  passing  notes  back  and  forth  through  this  con- 
cealed passage.  This  "telegraph"  was  very  useful 
when  we  afterwards  undertook  an  escape. 

I  can  preserve  no  order  of  time  in  relating  the  events 
of  these  tedious  months,  which  slowly  rolled  away 
their  ponderous  length.  It  was  an  almost  perfect  iso- 
lation from  the  world,  with  little  hope  of  ever  again 
mingling  in  its  busy  currents.  As  each  month  closed, 
we  were  startled  by  the  thought  that  we  were  still 
alive, — that  the  thunder-bolt  had  not  yet  descended, — 
and  we  surmised  and  wondered  how  much  longer  it 
could  be  delayed.  At  last  a  small  ray  of  hope  began  to 
rise,  very  feeble  at  first,  and  based  only  upon  the  incom- 
prehensible reprieve  we  were  enjoying.  As  week  after 
week  glided  away  eventless — marked  only  by  the  mo- 
notony that  is  more  wearying  to  heart  and  brain  than 
the  most  severe  anguish — this  hope  grew  stronger; 
though  it  was  so  little  assured  that  the  most  trifling 
circumstance — such  as  the  strengthening  of  the  guard, 
or  the  visit  of  an  army  official — was  sufficient  for  th.) 
time  to  overturn  it.  It  was  the  12th  of  June  when  we 
entered  that  room.  It  was  the  18th  of  October  before 
we  left  it  amid  events  of  the  most  startling  character, 
which  will  form  a  fit  topic  fir  a  new  chapter. 


244  CAPTURING  A  LOCOMOTIVE. 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

LIBEBTY   OK   DEATH? 

ONE  morning  the  guard  brought  up  four  Federal 
soldiers,  who  were  shut  up  in  the  front  room.  As  soon 
as  we  were  alone  we  resorted  to  our  usual  method  of 
telegraphing  to  learn  who  they  were.  To  our  great 
surprise  and  pleasure  we  found  that  two  of  them — 
Coleman  and  Helbling — were  of  the  Tenth  Wisconsin, 
a  regiment  of  our  own  brigade.  They  gave  us  many 
most  interesting  items  of  news, — among  others,  that 
our  comrades  had  long  since  given  us  up  for  dead,  and 
were  vowing  vengeance  on  our  behalf.  They  we^e 
greatly  surprised  to  find  so  many  of  us  still  alive. 
The  other  two  were  of  the  regular  army,  who  had  been 
captured  on  the  coast  of  Florida.  They  remained  with 
us  until  we  were  taken  to  Richmond  long  after.  From 
them  we  gained  a  complete  detail  of  the  movements 
of  our  army  since  our  departure.  We  were  greatly 
grieved  to  find  the  military  situation  far  less  favorable 
than  it  had  been  four  months  before.  The  transfer  of 
General  Mitchel  from  Tennessee  to  the  Atlantic  coast 
we  also  regarded  as  unfavorable  to  our  interests. 
These  soldiers  were  the  means  shortly  of  leading  us  to 
a  desperate  resolution. 

We  frequently  talked  and  plotted  about  escape.  This 
is  the  one  topic  that  prisoners  never  weary  of.  We  long 
before  resolved  that  if  any  movement  was  made  towards 
a  court-martial,  we  would  make  one  desperate  effort 
for  life ;  for  the  result  of  the  trials  in  the  case  of  An- 
drews and  our  poor  comrades  assured  us  that  this  for- 
mality would  not  be  undertaken  for  any  other  purpose 
than  that  of  putting  us  to  death,  under  a  show  of  law. 
After  the  lapse  of  a  considerable  time  we  had  hopes 


LIBERTY   OR   D  EAT  HI  24fi 

that  they  would  not  dispense  with  this  ceremony,  and 
that  we  would  thus  have  warning  which  might  be  use- 
ful. But  many  of  our  number — those  especially  who 
were  vigorous  in  health,  and,  therefore,  were  more 
ready  for  action — wished  to  make  the  attempt  at  any 
rate.  But  time  rolled  on,  and  the  dreaded  prepara- 
tions for  a  trial  were  not  made.  Why  we  were  left  in 
this  uncertain  condition  for  four  months  we  could  not 
tell.  It  might  be  that,  in  the  rush  of  military  events, 
we  were  forgotten,  or  it  might  be  that  the  rebel  author- 
ities considered  the  hanging  of  eight  men  as  sufficient 
to  show  their  estimate  of  the  enormity  of  our  crime. 
This  latter  view  grew  upon  the  minds  of  some  to  such 
a  degree  that  we  boldly  resolved  to  test  it,  even  if  it 
did  bring  our  fate  more  swiftly  upon  us, — resolving 
that  if  our  action  should  result  in  calling  a  court- 
martial  we  would  then  break  from  our  prison  or  die 
in  the  attempt.  Indeed,  the  scanty  fare,  the  uncer- 
tainty, and  the  longing  for  liberty  had  become  so  com- 
pletely unendurable,  that  the  prospects  of  perishing  on 
the  bayonets  of  the  guard  had  little  terror.  But  our 
resolution  was  to  write  a  letter  directly  to  Jefferson 
Davis,  the  President  of  the  Confederacy,  reciting  our 
case,  and  asking  to  be  put  on  the  footing  of  prisoners  of 
war.  I  acted  as  scribe,  and  used  language  as  strong 
and  yet  respectful  as  possible.  While  writing,  the  whole 
party  gathered  around,  and  volunteered  suggestions. 
Said  Brown,  "  Be  very  humble  to  him,  Pittenger.  We 
can  take  all  back,  if  we  get  out."  Buffum  raised  quite 
a  laugh  by  saying,  "  Tell  him,  Pittenger,  that f  all  we 
ask  is  to  be  let  alone.' "  This  was  an  extract  from  one 
of  Jefferson  Davis'  own  addresses.  But  it  did  not  go 
in  the  letter.  The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  document, 
obtained  from  the  Confederate  archives : 

"ATLANTA  JAIL,  August  17,  1862. 
«  To  His  EXCELLENCY  JEFFERSON  DAVIS, 

"  President  Confederate  States  of  America. 
"  KESPECTED  SIR, — We  are  United  States  soldiers  regularly 
detailed  from  our  command  to  obey  the  orders  of  Andrews.     He 

21* 


24ti  CAl'TURINQ   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

was  a  stranger  to  us,  and  we  ignorant  of  his  design,  but,  of  course, 
we  obeyed  our  officers.  You  are  no  doubt  familiar  with  all  w« 
did,  or  can  find  it  recorded  in  the  trial  of  our  comrades.  Since 
then,  Andrews  himself  and  seven  of  us  have  been  executed,  and 
fourteen  survive.  Is  this  not  enough  for  vengeance  and  for  a 
warning  to  others  ?  Would  mercy  in  our  case  be  misplaced  ? 
We  have  already  been  closely  confined  for  more  than  four 
months.  Will  you  not,  sir,  display  a  noble  generosity  by  put- 
ting us  on  the  same  footing  as  prisoners  of  war,  and  permitting 
us  to  be  exchanged,  and  thus  show  that  in  this  terriblo  war  tho 
South  still  feels  the  claim  of  mercy  and  humanity? 

"  If  you  will  be  so  good  as  to  grant  this  request  we  will  ever 
be  grateful  to  you. 

"  Please  inform  us  of  your  decision  as  soon  as  convenient." 

Signed  by  all  the  survivors, — eight  of  the  Twenty 
first  Ohio,  one  of  the  Second,  and  five  of  the  Thirty- 
third,  all  of  Sill's  brigade,  Mitchel's  division. 

This  paper  was  forwarded  from  one  officer  to  another 
in  an  ascending  grade,  and  the  indorsements  on  it,  and 
the  correspondence  which  followed,  shed  much  light 
upon  the  position  and  fortunes  of  our  party.  But  this 
light  did  not  come  to  us  until  long  after. 

The  letter  was  marked  (erroneously  as  to  its  address), 
as  follows : 

"  Petition  from  the  survivors  of  Andrews'  party,  w)<o  took  the 
engine  on  .the  Georgia  State  Railroad  in  April  last,  to  Major- 
General  Bragg,  commanding  Department  No.  2." 

The  first  indorsement  is  that  of  Colonel  Lee,  provost 
marshal  at  Atlanta, : 

"  Respectfully  forwarded  to  General  Staughton. 

"G.  W.  LEE, 

'  Commanding  Post." 

1  HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  No.  2, 

"  CHATTANOOGA,  August  21,  1862 
"ADJUTANT-GENERAL  C.  S.  ARMY,  Kichmond,  Va. 

"SiB, — I  have  the  honor  to  inclose  herewith  the  petition  of 
W.  W.  Brown  and  others,  soldiers  of  the  Twenty  first  and  Second 
Ohio  Regiments,  U.S.A.,  and  to  request  information  in  the  mat- 
tw.  I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully, 

"  Your  obedient  servant, 

"  BRAXTON  BRAQQ, 

"  General  Commanding.' 


LIBERTY   OR   DEATH1  247 

The  iiext  indorsement  shows  a  favorable  disposition 
-at  least  in  part : 

[Indorsement.] 

"  Respectfully  submitted  to  the  President. 
"  I  recommend  that  they  be  respited  until  further  orders,  aud 
detained  as  hostages  for  our  own  people  in  the  hands  of  the 
enemy. 

"  G.  W.  RANDOLPH, 

"Secretary  of  War." 

The  Secretary  of  War  seems  to  have  had  the  impres- 
sion that  we  had  been  also  tried,  and  that  sentence  of 
death  was  pending  over  us.  Under  such  circumstances 
a  respite  would  have  been  a  valuable  boon. 

But  President  Davis  is  inflexible : 

[Indorsement.] 

"Secretary  of  War,  inquire  whether  there  is  anything  to 
justify  a  discrimination  between  them  and  others  who  were  ex- 
ecuted for  the  same  offence.  J.  D." 

The  inquiry  thus  ordered  was  at  once  begun : 

[Indorsement.] 

"  Write  to  Major  G.  W.  Lee,  provost-marshal  at  Atlanta, 
and  inquire  why  fourteen  of  the  engine  thieves  were  respited 
while  the  others  were  executed,  and  whether  there  is  anything 
distinguishing  their  case. 

"  G.  W.  RANDOLPH, 

"Secretary  of  War." 

Only  the  responses  to  these  inquiries  were  preserved 
on  file  at  Richmond,  and  are  now  in  Washington. 
They  show  the  degree  of  confusion  and  misunderstand- 
ing which  prevailed  at  the  rebel  capital : 

"HEADQUARTERS,  ATLANTA,  GA.,  Sept.  16,  1862. 

"  HON.  G.  W.  RANDOLPH,  Secretary  of  War,  Richmond,  Va. 

"SiR, — Your  communication  of  the  llth  inst.  is  duly  to  hand 
In  reply,  I  have  respectfully  to  say  that  the  arrest,  incarcera- 
tion, trial,  and  execution  of  the  prisoners  you  refer  to  occurred 
before  I  took  charge  of  this  post  by  your  order.  I  found  • 
number  of  prisoners  on  my  arrival,  and  among  them  the  men 
named  in  the  petition  transmitted. 


248  CAPTURING    A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

11  Inclosed  I  transmit  the  papers  handed  orer  to  me  by  my 
predecesssor.  Since  the  reception  of  your  letter  I  have  endeavored 
to  find  Captain  Foreacre,  and  ascertain  something  more,  explain- 
ing what  1  was  not  conversant  with  in  the  transaction,  but  as  his 
business  takes  him  away  from  the  city,  I  have  not  as  yet  had  an 
interview  with  him.  I  will  still  seek  occasion  to  find  hirn,  and  give 
you  all  the  information  learned  from  him.  You  will  please  find 
inclosed  the  names  of  the  engine-stealers  and  bridge-burners  who 
are  confined  in  the  jail  of  this  city.  It  is  entirely  out  of  my 
power  to  answer  you  as  to  '  why  fourteen  of  the  engine  thieves 
were  respited  while  the  others  were  executed,  and  whether  or  not 
there  is  anything  to  justify  a  discrimination  in  their  favor?'  as  I 
am  not  informed  in  relation  to  the  proceedings  of  the  court-mar- 
tial that  tried  the  men. 

"  I  am,  sir, 

u  Respectfully  your  obt.  servt., 

"G.  W.  LKK, 
"  Commanding  Post,  and  Provost-Marshal." 

The  inclosures  consist  of  the  seven  death-sentences, 
one  of  which  has  already  been  given,  and  the  following 
lists,  which  show  a  number  of  glaring  errors.  Accord- 
ing to  the  first  we  had  all  been  court-martial  led,  but 
only  the  seven  sentenced.  The  second  is  wrong  in  the 
placing  of  several  names.  The  manner  in  which  the 
word  "  spies"  is  interlined  in  the  "  charges"  of  the  first 
list  is  also  suggestive. 

"List  of  Prit  -~TS  sent  to  Atlanta,  Ga.,  June  18,  1862,  from 
Knoxville,  5  en.,  by  command  of  Major-General  E.  Kirby 
Smith : 

Names.  Residence.  Charge*. 

Spies. 

1.  Wilson  Brown Ohio.    Court-martialled  and  sentenced.. ..EugineA  stealing. 

2.  Marion  Rosa *  * 

3.  W.  H.  Campbell   ....    "  • 

4.  John  Scott _    "  " 

5.  Perry  G.  Shadrs*  *».„    " 

6.  G.  D.  Wilson « 

7.  Samuel  Slavens.......    " 

8.  S.  Robinson "  " 

9.  K.  H.  Mason «  " 

10.  Wm.  Knight _..    "  « 

11.  Robt.  Buffins ....    « 

12.  Wm.  Pcttinger " 

13.  Captain  David  Fry  ...Green  Co.,  Tenn _.... Bridge-burning  and  recruiting  for 

Federal  army. 

14.  G.  W.  Barlow Washington  Co.,  Tenn. ...Obstructing  railroad  track. 

16.  Thos.  McCoy Morgan  Co.,  "     "1 

Peter  Pierce Campbell  Co.,         "      I  Prisoner*  of    war.— Federal    sol- 
John  Barker E*till  Co.,  dier*. 

Beanot  Powers.. Lincoln  Co., 


LIBERTY  OR   DEATHt  249 

N&mea  Residence.  Charges. 

I'olilical  I'riKoneii. 

Ransom  White Morgan  Co.,         Term.  ]  Citizen  aiding  the  enemy. 

John  Walls Blouut  Co.,  "       I  Trying  to  go  to  Kentucky. 

John  Green Union  Co.,  "       [Rebellion. 

John  Thompkius Washington  Co.,     "       j          " 

Henry  Miller Sullivan  Co.,  "     ....Suspected  an  a  spy 

William  Thompson. Arrested  at  Bristol "          "        '' 

"  Respectfully  submitted  by  order. 

"WM.   M.  ClIURCHWKLL, 

"Colonel,  and  Provost-Marshal." 
"List  of  Prisoners  in  Atlanta  City  Jail,  September  10,  1802 

ENGINE-STEALERS. 

M.  J.  Hawkins,  W.  Keddick, 

J.  Parrott,  D.  A.  Uorsey, 

W.  Bensinger,  J.  K.  Porter, 

A.  Wilson,  M.  Wood, 

E.  H.  Mason,  W.  W.  Brown, 

W.  Knight,  R.  Bufman, 

W.  Pettinger,  David  Fry, 

J.  J.  Barker. 

BRIDGE-BURNERS. 

T.  McCoy,  P.  Pierce, 

B.  Powers,  Jno.  Walla, 
Jno.  Green,  R.  White, 
H.  Mills,  J.  Tompking, 
G.  D.  Barlow,  Jno.  Wollam." 

The  next  day  Provost-Marshal  Lee  wrote  again  aa 
follows: 

"HEADQUARTERS,  ATLANTA,  GA., 

"September  17,  1862. 
"  HON.  G.  W.  RANDOLPH,  Secretary  of  War,  Richmond,  Va. 

"  SIR, — I  respectfully  forward  to  you  hereby  all  that  I  have 
been  enabled  to  obtain  from  my  predecessor,  Captain  Poreacre. 

"  The  documents  relating  to  the  cases,  so  far  as  I  know  any- 
thing about  them,  were  forwarded  to  you  on  yesterday. 
"  I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully, 

"  Your  obedient  servant, 

"G.  W.  LEK, 
"  Commanding  Post,  and  Provost- Marshal.  ' 

The  following  letter,  inclosed  from  Captain  Fore- 
acre,  is  wrong  in  saying  that  some  of  the  party  had 
been  tried  but  not  sentenced.  Yet  this  was  the  obvious 
belief  of  the  Confederate  authorities  : 


250  CAPTURING  A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

"ATLANTA,  GA.,  September  16,  1862. 
M  HON.  G.  VV.  RANDOLPH,  Secretary  of  War,  Richmond,  Va. 

"DEAR  SIB, — Your  letter  of  September  11,  1862,  to  Major 
Lee,  provost-marshal,  has  been  shown  me  by  him,  and,  as  far  ai 
I  am  acquainted  with  the  matter,  General  Smith  only  sent  from 
Knoxville  instructions  and  orders  to  have  seven  of  them  hung, 
which  was  promptly  attended  to  by  myself. 

"  The  remaining  fourteen  were  reported  to  this  office  only  for 
safe-keeping, — some  having  been  tried,  but  not  sentenced,  and 
others  not  tried.  The  only  office  which  can  properly  answer  your 
inquiry  is  that  of  Major-General  E.  K.  Smith. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  remain, 

"  Your  obedient  servant, 

"G.  I.  FOREACRE." 


No  record  of  any  further  inquiry  remains.  Whether 
the  matter  was  there  dropped,  or  orders  issued  for  open- 
ing the  whole  question  by  a  court-martial,  remains  un- 
certain. But  these  documents  make  it  almost  certain 
that  all  the  party,  or  at  least  the  twelve  who  were  sent 
to  Knoxville,  were  destined  to  be  tried  and  condemned ; 
that  at  the  abrupt  breaking  up  of  the  court,  no  record 
was  put  on  file  of  the  cause  of  the  interruption ;  and 
that  the  authorities  at  Atlanta  and  Richmond  expected 
the  court  at  Knoxville,  which  they  assumed  to  have 
finished  its  work,  to  give  orders  for  our  disposal.  That 
court  never  reconvened.  Its  members  were  dispersed 
all  over  the  South.  The  commanding  general,  E. 
Kirby  Smith,  was  transferred  to  a  distant  department. 
We  were  forgotten,  and  thus  the  strange  respite  we 
enjoyed  is  explained.  But  would  it  continue  ? 

Some  of  the  Confederate  officers  had  formed  a  theory 
of  their  own  to  account  for  the  death  of  seven  of  our 
number  and  the  sparing  of  the  remainder.  They  as- 
sumed that  those  put  to  death  were  volunteers,  while 
the  others  were  detailed  by  their  officers.  But  there 
were  no  grounds  for  such  a  supposition. 

While  this  correspondence  was  in  progress,  Colonel 
Lee  came  to  our  door  one  day,  and  had  a  long  talk 
with  us  about  our  expedition  and  prison  experiences. 
He  finally  told  us  of  receiving  a  letter  from  the  Secre- 


LIBERTY   OR   DEATH  1  251 

tary  of  War  at  Richmond  asking  why  we  had  not  all 
been  executed  !  Pie  asked  us  the  reason,  and  one  of 
the  party,  who  had  not  totally  forgotten  his  experience 
of  duplicity  in  the  early  part  of  our  enterprise,  said 
that  it  had  been  thought  that  there  were  some  miti- 
gating circumstances  in  our  case.  The  marshal  said 
that  he  could  give  no  reason,  but  had  referred  the 
Secretary  to  the  court-martial  at  Knoxville,  and  that 
he  was  now  awaiting  orders  concerning  us.  On  our 
request  he  promised  to  visit  us  again  when  he  should 
receive  an  answer  from  Richmond.  We  told  him  of 
the  manner  in  which  our  comrades  had  been  put  to 
death  without  warning.  He  admitted  the  wrong,  but 
disclaimed  responsibility  for  it,  as  it  occurred  before  he 
came  into  command. 

We  waited  anxiously  for  his  return  for  several  days, 
but  waited  in  vain.  It  was  urged  that  we  had  heard 
enough  already,  and  that  now,  if  ever,  we  ought  to 
strike  for  life.  But  I  was  of  another  opinion.  The 
enterprise  of  escaping  was  of  enormous  difficulty,  and 
success,  at  the  best,  doubtful.  I  did  not  think  that,  in 
our  enfeebled  condition,  after  six  months  of  terrible 
hardship  and  partial  starvation,  we  were  the  men  we 
had  been.  It  was  my  judgment  that  nothing  but  the 
certainty  of  death  on  the  one  hand  could  give  the  neces- 
sary vigor,  spring,  and  desperation  to  command  success 
on  the  other.  Despair  might  nerve  us  to  throw  our- 
selves with  resistless  fury  on  the  bayonets  of  the  guards, 
but  this  fury  would  come  only  when  the  last  hope  was 
dead.  My  reasoning  prevailed,  and  we  waited  a  little 
longer. 

But  evidence  came  soon  that  ended  hesitation.  More 
of  the  guard  was  kept  on  duty  at  once,  and  greater 
vigilance  was  everywhere  apparent.  We  fancied  that 
the  old  jailer  regarded  us  with  unusual  compassion. 
But  through  the  stove-pipe,  from  our  friends  in  the 
other  room,  came  the  decisive  information.  The  pris- 
oners there  saw  the  provost-marshal  ride  up  to  the 


252  CAPTURING  A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

gate,  have  the  jailer  called  out,  and  heard  him  give 
orders  to  watch  those  engine-thieves  closely,  as  he  had 
been  notified  that  a  court  was  ordered  for  their  trial. 
The  same  evening  the  jailer  said  to  them  that  he  was 
very  sorry  for  the  poor  Yankees  in  the  other  room, 
for  every  man  of  them  would  be  hung !  This  word 
was  conveyed  to  us,  and  longer  doubt  would  have  been 
folly. 

We  were  now  ready  for  the  emergency,  and  had 
fuJy  discussed  and  settled  our  plans.  We  were  in 
the  upper  story  of  the  jail.  Our  room  was  entered  by 
a  double  door, — one  of  heavy  plank,  and  one  of  iron 
slats.  If  this  was  opened,  we  would  only  be  in  the 
entry,  and  would  have  still  to  go  down-stairs  into  a 
hall  and  pass  another  door  before  we  could  gain  the 
jail-yard.  This,  in  turn,  was  surrounded  by  a  board 
fence  eight  or  ten  feet  high,  and  having  but  a  single 
gate,  which  was  usually  closed.  Seven  fully-armed 
soldiers  were  constantly  on  guard,  with  an  unknown 
reserve  close  at  hand.  We  could  depend  on  help  from 
no  one  of  the  prisoners  except  Captain  Fry,  so  that  we 
were  but  fifteen,  and  even  two  or  three  of  these  were 
too  sick  to  be  of  great  value  in  a  fight.  Then  we  were 
in  the  skirts  of  the  town,  fully  a  mile  from  the  nearest 
woods.  One  advantage,  and  the  only  one  on  which  I 
relied,  was  that  of  surprise.  We  knew  what  we  were 
to  do,  and  the  strong  motive  that  impelled  it. 

All  plans  looking  to  sawing  out  and  swinging  to  the 
ground  at  night,  as  in  Chattanooga,  had  been  canvassed 
and  rejected.  What  we  meant  to  do  was  to  break  out 
in  open  daylight  and  overpower  the  guards.  The  most 
favcrable  time  was  when  the  doors  were  opened  for 
bringing  in  our  supper,  which  was  a  little  before  sun- 
down, as  by  starting  then  we  would  soon  have  the 
cover  of  darkness.  It  was  arranged  to  seize  the  jailer 
when  he  came  to  remove  the  pans  in  which  our  supper 
was  brought,  and  to  keep  him  perfectly  quiet  while  all 
the  doors  were  being  unlocked,  for  we  wished  to  release 


LIBERTY  OR  DEATH t  253 

all  the  other  prisoners.  At  the  same  moment  the 
other  members  of  the  party,  divided  into  two  squads, 
were  to  cautiously  descend  the  stairway,  pounce  upon 
the  guards,  and  take  their  guns  from  them.  If  this 
was  done  in  perfect  quiet,  the  guards  were  to  be  locked 
up,  and  we,  taking  their  arms,  would  march  out  on  our 
homeward  journey.  As  soon  as  discovered  we  were 
to  break  into  parties  of  two  and  strike  out  for  Union 
territory  by  widely-diverging  lines. 

All  our  plans  were  completed.  We  had  patched  our 
clothes  as  well  as  possible,  and  made  cloth  moccasins 
to  protect  our  feet,  many  of  our  shoes  being  worn  out. 
We  only  waited  the  coming  of  the  appointed  hour. 

Slowly  the  sun  sunk  down  the  west;  slowly  the 
shadows  lengthened  in  the  east,  till  the  gloomy  shade 
of  the  jail  had  nearly  reached  the  crest  of  the  hill  that 
usually  marked  our  supper-time.  We  bade  each  other 
a  solemn  farewell,  for  we  knew  not  if  we  should  ever 
meet  again  on  earth,  or  how  many  of  us  might  be  cold 
and  lifeless  before  the  stars  shone  out.  We  prayed 
fervently,  though  we  dared  not  kneel  or  speak  aloud. 
Captain  Fry,  who  was  tender-hearted  as  a  child,  wept 
at  the  parting.  He  had  two  large  coats,  and  as  he 
could  not  take  both  with  him  in  the  expected  rush,  he 
generously  gave  one  to  me.  I  needed  it  extremely,  for 
I  was  very  nearly  destitute  of  clothing.  He  and  I 
were  to  be  companions,  according  to  a  previous  ar- 
rangement. 

Everything  was  put  in  readiness.  I  had  carefully 
piled  in  a  corner  such  of  the  books  belonging  to  the 
minister  as  we  still  retained,  and  had  written  him  a 
note  of  thanks  for  them.  Anything  that  could  be  used 
as  a  weapon  was  now  put  within  reach. 

At  last  the  supper-hour  came.  We  could  not  afford 
to  lose  a  morsel  of  the  scanty  food,  and  ate  it  in  silence. 
The  jailer  was  not  accustomed  to  come  into  the  room, 
but  merely  opened  the  door  and  admitted  the  negroes 
who  bore  the  pans  filled  with  corn-bread.  Old  Thoer, 

22 


254  CAPTURING   A   LOCOMOTIVE, 

the  watchman  whom  everybody  hated,  was  fortunately 
away.  It  was  well,  or  he  might  have  suffered.  Tur- 
ner we  respected,  and  were  determined  not  to  injure  if 
we  could  help  it.  After  the  jailer  had  given  their  food 
to  ihe  inmates  of  the  other  rooms  he  came  back  to  ours 
and  swung  open  the  creaking  door  to  remove  the  food- 
pans.  This  was  the  signal. 

It  was  a  thrilling  moment !  On  the  action  of  the 
next  few  seconds  hung  the  issues  of  life  or  death.  I 
confess  that  for  one  instant  the  blood  flowed  to  my 
heart  with  a  sharp,  piercing  throb,  and  there  came  a 
sudden  and  terrible  fear  lest  the  fever- weakened  body 
would  not  in  this  crisis  obey  the  dictates  of  will.  But 
this  ceased  before  the  door  had  swung  wide  enough 
open  to  admit  the  passage  of  a  man.  The  others  were 
pale  but  determined,  and  a  single  glance  told  me  that 
there  would  be  no  faltering.  As  for  Captain  Fry,  who 
was  to  initiate  the  movement, — supported  by  myself, — 
and  whom  I  had  seen  weeping  a  few  minutes  before, 
he  was  perfectly  calm,  and  his  face  wore  a  pleasant 
smile !  As  soon  as  the  door  had  swung  far  enough  he 
stepped  adroitly  through  it  as  if  this  were  the  most 
natural  thing  in  the  world,  and  said,  very  quietly, — 

"  A  pleasant  evening,  Mr.  Turner." 

"Yes,  —  rather  —  pleasant,"  responded  the  jailer, 
looking  bewildered  by  this  movement,  as  he  no  doubt 
was. 

"We  feel  like  taking  a  little  walk  this  evening," 
continued  the  captain,  while  the  door  was  forced  clear 
back,  and  three  of  us  stood  abreast  in  it  ready  to 
spring. 

The  astonishment  of  the  jailer  now  knew  no  bounds. 
"  What  ? — how  ? — where  ?"  he  gasped,  in  broken  ejac- 
ulations. 

Fry's  countenance  grew  darker  ab  he  clasped  the  old 
man  in  his  arms,  and  said, — 

"  We  have  stayed  as  long  as  we  can  stand  it,  and  are 
now  going  to  leave  and  let  the  other  prisoners  out ;  so 


LIBERTY  OR  DEATH 9  255 

give  up  the  keys,  and  make  no  noise  about  it,  or  it  will 
be  the  worse  for  you !" 

Turner  tightened  his  grasp  on  the  keys,  whispered, 
hoarsely,  "  You  can't  do  that,"  then  threw  himself  back 
and  began  in  a  loud  tone,  "  Ghiar — "  when  my  hand 
closed  across  his  mouth  and  stifled  the  incipient  call  for 
help.  He  bit  my  finger,  but  did  no  great  damage. 

Then  came  the  rush  of  the  prisoners, — quick,  stealthy, 
cat-like.  Not  a  sound  was  audible  a  dozen  yards  away. 
The  negroes  huddled  in  a  corner  of  the  room  in  stupid 
fright,  but  had  sense  enough  to  be  quiet.  Turner 
struggled  violently,  for  he  was  a  man  of  great  strength, 
but  Fry  and  I  kept  him  mute ;  the  keys  were  twisted 
from  him,  and  Buffum  was  soon  at  work  on  the  locks 
of  the  other  doors.  Quietly  the  assaulting  column  de- 
scended the  stairway  and  burst'  out  upon  the  guards 
outside.  If  they  committed  a  fault,  it  was  in  being 
too  quick.  In  one  minute  Buffum  would  have  had  the 
other  doors  unlocked,  and  then,  throwing  aside  the  dis- 
armed jailer,  Fry,  Buffum,  and  myself,  reinforced  by 
all  the  prisoners  who  chose  to  go  with  us,  would  have 
stood  by  their  side  in  the  second  charge.  This  trifling 
circumstance  did  make  a  considerable  difference  in  the 
result, — at  least,  to  some  of  us. 

Seven  sentinels  were  on  duty, — three  in  the  back 
yard,  four  in  the  front  yard.  The  charge  upon  the  for- 
mer was  completely  successful,  their  guns  being  wrested 
from  them  before  they  knew  their  danger,  and  they 
were  kept  perfectly  quiet  under  the  threat — which 
would  have  been  executed — of  instant  death. 

The  attack  in  the  front  yard  was  made  with  equa* 
gallantry  and  skill,  but  not  with  equal  success.  Two 
rebels  stood  near  the  front  door  of  the  prison,  and  these 
were  secured  in  the  same  manner  as  their  comrades  at 
the  rear,  and  held  in  silence.  Had  the  remaining  twc 
been  close  at  hand,  I  have  no  doubt  they  would  have 
fared  as  their  comrades,  and  thus  the  unparalleled  feat 
of  twelve  unarmed  prisoners  taking  the  loaded  musket* 


256  CAPTURING   A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

from  seven  guards  on  their  post  would  have  been  ao- 
complished.  But,  unfortunately,  the  last  two  stood  at 
the  open  gate.  Their  conduct  was  not  brave  but  it  was 
wise,  for,  without  firing  a  shot,  they  ran  out  through 
the  gate,  screaming  the  alarm  in  tones  that  roused  the 
whole  neighborhood.  The  reserve  guard  was  close  at 
hand,  and  at  once  rushed  to  the  rescue. 

The  whole  action,  from  the  time  Fry  stepped  out  of 
the  door  until  the  wild  cry  was  raised  at  the  gate,  war 
probably  less  than  sixty  seconds.  Fry  and  myself 
were  preparing  to  secure  the  jailer,  for  we  knew  not 
yet  that  the  attack  was  made.  Buffum  had  opened  two 
doors,  and  was  working  at  the  third  when  the  wild, 
thrilling  cry  of  alarm  arose  from  below.  Those  within 
adjured  him  to  open,  and  the  brave  man,  though  his 
own  chances  of  life  vrere  lessening  each  second,  worked 
till  the  door  opened,  and  then  violently  flung  it  wide, 
with  an  impatient  "there!"  while  he  bounded  down  the 
stairway  like  a  hunted  deer. 

All  secrecy  was  at  an  end,  and  the  only  remaining 
hope  was  in  headlong  flight.  Our  comrades  in  the 
yard  saw  their  peril,  and  were  in  a  little  better  position 
than  those  of  us  who  were  still  inside  the  jail.  They 
let  go  their  terrified  enemies,  flung  away  the  guns, 
which  now  could  only  impede  their  flight,  and,  scaling 
the  board  fence,  made  for  the  woods  nearly  a  mile  away. 
Even  for  the  foremost  of  them  it  was  a  fearful  race. 
Rebel  bullets  whistled  around  their  ears,  but  none  of 
them  was  hit.  Indeed,  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  it 
was  a  fortunate  thing  for  our  comrades  that  the  rebels 
had  guns  to  carry,  and  stopped  to  fire  whenever  they 
came  near  a  fugitive.  Otherwise  hundreds  of  fresh, 
vigorous  soldiers — for  there  were  soon  hundreds  on 
the  scene — could  have  run  down  a  dozen  half-starved 
prisoners. 

Fry  and  myself  started  down-stairs  together  as  soon 
as  Buffum  had  opened  the  last  door, — only  a  moment 
after  the  alarm  had  been  given,  but  moments  were 


LIBERTY  OR   DEATH t  267 

more  precious  then  than  common  months.  The  cap- 
tain was  a  little  in  advance.  His  eagle  eye  took  in 
the  situation,  as  in  two  leaps  he  cleared  the  stairway. 
He  saw  there  was  no  chance  in  the  front  yard,  now 
filled  with  armed  rebels,  and  darted  to  the  back  door, 
found  a  passage  to  the  yard  fence,  scaled  it  just  before 
a  complete  guard  was  stretched  around  the  prison,  was 
fired  at  on  the  fence,  but  descended  in  safety,  and  ran 
in  a  different  direction  from  the  other  fugitives.  Fi- 
nally, a  soldier  levelled  his  musket  at  him,  and  he  fell. 
One  of  our  own  men  who  saw  this,  and  no  more,  re- 
ported that  he  was  killed,  and  we  long  mourned  the 
brave  man  as  dead.  But  this  was  only  a  stratagem  to 
gain  his  breath  for  a  moment.  His  pursuers  turned 
towards  other  game,  and  he  rose,  and,  after  a  second 
hard  chase,  gained  the  cover  of  the  woods.  Thirty 
days  after  he  had  reached  Nashville  in  safety. 

I  was  to  have  been  his  companion,  according  to  the 
allotment  we  made  before  leaving  the  prison,  and  our 
boys  almost  envied  me  the  advantage  of  being  with 
so  experienced  a  mountain  traveller.  But  a  moment's 
misfortune  made  this  advantage  unavailing,  and  doomed 
me  to  further  sufferings.  My  eyes  have  always  been 
defective,  and  especially  sensitive  to  sudden  variations 
of  light.  When  I  came  from  the  dark  prison  room 
(the  hall  was  equally  dark)  into  full  light,  for  a  moment 
I  could  see  nothing  distinctly.  I  lost  sight  of  Fry.  It 
would  not  do  to  stand  still,  and  I  rushed  for  the  prison- 
gate.  Many  a  time  defective  vision  has  been  a  source 
of  annoyance  and  vexation,  but  never  so  much  as  then. 
Before  getting  to  the  gate  I  could  see  better,  and  was 
confronted  by  two  soldiers,  who  were  tossing  their  guns 
about  in  a  distracted  manner,  and  crying,  "  What  shall 
we  do  ?  Oh,  what  shall  we  do  ?"  They  did  not  look 
dangerous,  and  I  ran  by ;  but  just  in  the  gate  I  met  a 
stream  of  fresh  guards  coming  on  the  run.  Of  course 
they  halted  me,  and  equally,  of  course,  I  did  not  halt, 
but  turned  back  towards  the  jail.  There  were  other 

r  22» 


258  CAPTURING  A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

guards  around,  one  of  whom  snapped  his  gun  at  me 
when  not  two  yards  away.  I  eluded  them,  got  into 
the  jail  again,  and  out  at  the  back  door.  This  time  I 
reached  the  top  of  the  yard  fence,  but  a  dozen  muskets 
were  lifted  from  the  outside  to  fire.  To  jump  down  on 
that  side  was  inevitable  death.  One  chance  only  re- 
mained. Possibly  the  gate  now  was  not  watched !  I 
sprang  back  into  the  yard,  and  other  guards  were  after 
me.  The  prison-door  was  open,  and  I  entered,  seek- 
ing to  pass  through  it  as  before,  and  get  outside  the 
gate  for  a  clear  race.  But  the  front  door  was  now 
guarded  also,  and,  as  I  turned,  I  found  my  pursuers 
in  the  back  door.  I  was  fairly  trapped, — back  in  the 
prison  again  !  It  was  a  terrible  situation.  If  I  could 
crush  between  the  two  men  who  stood  with  loaded 
muskets  in  the  door,  their  comrades  were  outside,  and 
it  was  simply  death  to  attack  them.  In  sheer  despera- 
tion, I  turned  my  back  upon  them,  not  caring  whether 
they  fired  or  not,  and  walked  up-stairs  to  a  window, 
from  which  I  could  see  something  of  the  fearful  race 
still  going  on,  and  note  the  streams  of  troops  pouring 
towards  the  prison.  My  guards  pointed  their  guns  at 
me,  but  did  not  offer  to  come  near,  and  when  I  walked 
from  the  hall  window  into  a  room, — not  our  own,  but 
another  which  commanded  a  better  view, — I  found  in 
it  the  four  Federal  soldiers,  its  former  occupants,  who 
had  made  no  attempt  to  get  away,  the  alarm  and  the 
rapid  firing  which  followed  convincing  them  that  it 
was  safer  to  remain  where  they  were. 

Parrott  and  Reddick  were  recaptured  inside  the  wall, 
like  myself.  Buffum  got  over  the  wall  about  the  same 
time  as  Captain  Fry,  but  was  less  fortunate.  A  soldier 
singled  him  out,  and  squarely  ran  him  down.  When 
hardly  able  to  drag  another  step,  and  with  the  inexor- 
able armed  runner  within  a  rod  of  him,  Buffiim  tried  a 
"  Yankee  trick."  (He  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts.) 
Sinking  down  exhausted,  he  said,  "  I  surrender.  Yon 
can  go  on  and  get  that  other  fellow,"  pointing  to  one  a 


LIBERTY   OR   D  EAT  HI  259 

few  rods  away.  "  No,"  answered  the  man,  with  a  great 
oath,  "  I've  got  you,  and  I  mean  to  keep  you."  So  he  stood 
with  his  gun  aimed  until  some  of  his  comrades  arrived, 
and  poor  Buffurn  was  marched  back  to  jail.  Had  the 
man  taken  his  advice,  and  looked  for  a  bird  in  the 
bush,  the  one  in  hand  would  doubtless  have  flown. 
Mason  and  Bensinger  were  also  captured  outside  of  the 
wall,  making  a  recapture  of  six  and  an  escape  of  nine, 
— a  better  result  than  I  had  supposed  probable  when 
we  planned  the  attempt. 

From  the  window  of  the  front  room  where  I  then 
was  I  had  a  good  view  of  the  proceedings  below.  In 
a  short  time  a  large  body  of  troops,  including  a  regi- 
ment of  cavalry,  were  drawn  up  in  front  of  the  jail. 
I  heard  Colonel  Lee  give  his  orders.  He  said,  "  Don't 
take  one  of  the  villains  alive.  Shoot  them  down 
wherever  you  find  them,"  with  many  similar  expres- 
sions, which  were  possibly  meant  for  the  benefit  of 
those  inside  the  prison  as  well  as  for  the  troops.  He 
also  ordered  pickets  to  be  placed  at  the  ferries  of  the 
Chattahoochee,  along  the  railroad,  and  also  at  all  cross- 
roads,— an  arrangement  that  pleased  me,  for  we  had 
agreed  to  avoid  those  very  places.  Our  intention  had 
been  to  travel  in  the  night-time  through  the  woods,  and 
to  cross  the  rivers  on  logs  as  far  from  ferries  as  possible. 

Hearing  some  confused  sounds  of  distress  from  the 
room  of  the  Tennesseeans,  I  inquired  the  cause,  and 
learned  that  a  young  man,  named  Barlow,  who  alone 
of  their  number  had  attempted  to  escape,  had  broken 
his  ankle.  This  injury  was  received  in  jumping  from 
the  outside  fence.  He  was  driven  back  to  the  prison 
room,  where  surgical  aid  was  refused,  and  he  finally 
died  after  great  suffering. 

Of  all  who  were  up-stairs  at  the  time  the  alarm  was 
given,  only  Fry  and  one  other  man  succeeded  in  escap- 
ing. The  latter  was  a  deserter  from  the  rebel  army, 
and  being  very  active  and  fleet,  reached  the  shelter  of 
the  woods  in  advance  of  all  the  fugitives. 


260  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

From  the  window  I  could  hear  the  guards,  aL 
long,  talking  over  their  adventures.  Generally  they 
praised  their  own  bravery  liberally,  but  occasionally 
some  one  who  had  arrived  later  would  suggest  that  it 
was  not  much  to  their  credit  to  let  unarmed  men  snatch 
their  guns  from  them  ;  but  siich  suggestions  were  not 
kindly  received,  and  the  work  of  self-glorification  went 
on.  One  of  them  expressed  astonishment  at  the  speed 
of  the  Yankees,  who  had  been  so  long  kept  in  jail ; 
another  accounted  for  it  by  the  abundant  practice  in 
running  Yankee  soldiers  had  received  in  battle! 

All  night  long  I  lay  in  a  hammock  which  one  of  the 
regular  soldiers  had  swung  by  the  window,  but  nou 
kindly  resigned  to  me,  and  listened  to  the  boastful  con- 
versation below. 

"  Sadly  I  thought  of  the  morrow." 

There  was  little  reason  to  doubt  that  full  vengeance 
would  be  dealt  to  each  man  who  remained  in  the 
enemy's  power.  The  news  we  had  received,  and  which 
we  had  agreed  in  crediting,  was  the  end  of  all  hope. 
Death,  which  had  stared  us  in  the  face  so  often,  could 
not  be  far  distant  now.  Another  escape  would  scarcely 
be  left  by  the  aroused  vigilance  of  the  enemy  within 
the  realms  of  possibility.  And  such  a  death  I  No 
vision  of  glory  to  dazzle  the  sight,  and  hide  the  grim 
monster  from  view,  or  wreathe  him  in  flowers.  No 
eye  of  friends  to  behold  the  last  struggle.  No  sympa- 
thy,— nothing  but  ignominy  and  an  impenetrable  dark- 
ness, beyond  which  no  loving  eye  might  ever  pierce ! 
But  even  as  the  cold  horror  of  the  scaffold,  and  the 
vision  of  the  heartless,  jeering  crowd  rose  freshly  be- 
fore me,  I  looked  out  in  the  clear  night,  and  up  to  the 
shining  stars,  and  remembered  that  I  had  one  Friend, 
— a  Friend  who  would  not  fear  to  stand  with  me  on 
the  scaffold  r  and  who  had  Himself  tasted  the  bitterness 
of  a  public  execution.  Was  it  for  me  he  had  died, — to 


LIBERTY  OR   DEATH  t  261 

ihmv  me  that  no  outward  shame  is  too  great  to  be  bonu 
by  the  true  heart?  With  the  thought  came  a  still  ami 
heavenly  peace,  while  my  hope,  finding  no  place  on 
tin?  side,  overleaped  the  darkness  of  death  and  dwelt 
upon  the  scenes  of  promised  happiness  beyond.  It  is 
in  such  hours  that  the  value  and  supporting  power  of 
religion  is  fully  realized. 

The  next  morning  the  jailer  put  me  back  into  tho 
room  formerly  occupied.  When  all  had  gathered,  we 
were  only  six  in  number, — Mason,  Buffum,  Bensinger, 
Reddick,  Parrott,  and  myself.  We  had  enough  to  talk 
over  for  many  hours.  The  jailer,  too,  had  his  story  to 
tell.  He  said  that  some  man  put  his  hand  over  his 
mouth  and  nearly  smothered  him,  but  added,  with 
great  satisfaction,  "  I  bit  his  finger  terribly,  and  gave 
the  rascal  a  mark  he  will  carry  to  the  grave  with  him." 
However,  though  he  did  bite  hard,  his  teeth  were  not 
so  sharp  as  he  thought,  and  he  had  only  managed  to 
inflict  a  slight  bruise.  I  kept  my  hand  out  of  sight  in 
his  presence  for  a  day  or  two,  and  he  had  no  idea  that 
F  was  the  person  of  whom  he  complained,  as  his  fright 
prevented  his  clearly  distinguishing  anything.  He  was 
rather  cross  for  a  while,  and  always  brought  up  the 
guards  when  he  came  to  feed  us. 

About  the  middle  of  the  day  some  officers  came  to 
see  us,  and  talked  very  roughly.  With  many  threats, 
they  demanded  to  know  what  direction  our  comrades 
had  intended  to  travel.  I  was  glad  of  this,  as  it  as- 
sured me  that  some  were  still  at  large.  They  professed 
to  have  killed  several,  and  declared  that  they  meant  to 
kill  the  others  as  fast  as  they  were  taken.  In  answer 
to  their  demand  I  told  them  the  truth,  as  I  thought 
that  would  do  them  as  little  good  as  anything  else.  I 
said, — 

"  They  intend  to  try  to  get  to  the  Union  lines ;  and 
they  said  that  it  made  little  difference  which  way  they 
went,  for  our  forces  have  you  so  completely  surrounded, 
that  travelling  in  any  course  will  do  equally  well." 


CAPTURING  A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

Being  unable  to  get  anything   more  definite,  they 
retired. 

Not  until  our  own  release  did  we  learn  with  cer- 
tainty the  fate  of  our  eight  comrades.  Nothing  in  this 
whole  story  seems  more  wonderful  than  their  adven- 
tures and  ultimate  success.  Two  went  South,  two  West, 
and  four  others,  in  two  groups,  went  Northward.  To 
recite  the  adventures  of  all  would  detain  us  too  long, 
but  the  reader  will  expect  some  account.  We  will  give 
two  of  the  four  narratives  in  some  detail,  and  the 
more  briefly. 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

ROMANTIC   ESCAPES. 

J.  R.  PORTER  and  John  Wollam  kept  in  company 
when  they  ran  for  the  woods.  The  latter  will  be  re- 
membered as  having  previously  escaped  from  Chatta- 
nooga in  company  with  Andrews,  and  eluded  his  pur- 
suers for  a  long  time. 

It  was  October  16  when  they  started,  and  they 
reached  the  Federal  lines  at  Corinth,  Mississippi,  No- 
vember 18,  being  thus  two  days  over  a  month  on  the 
way.  They  endured  the  greatest  hardships.  When  in 
wooded  country  they  travelled  both  night  and  day,  sub- 
sisting on  wild  grapes,  chestnuts,  hickory-nuts,  walnuts, 
and  some  few  sweet  potatoes.  In  a  few  instances  they 
got  a  little  morsel  of  corn-bread  from  some  negroes. 
This  was  not  always  a  gift.  Several  times  they  slipped 
into  the  fields  where  the  negroes  were  at  work  and  stole 
their  scanty  dinners.  Necessity  knew  no  law.  For  one 
whole  week  they  had  no  bread,  nor  any  other  food,  ex- 
cept the  nuts  gathered  in  the  woods. 

Their  sufferings  with  cold  were  also  very  great,  as 
their  clothes  were  light  and  almost  worn  out,  and  the 


ROMANTIC  ESCAPES.  263 

nights  very  chill.  Twice  only  they  slept  in  housea. 
One  night  they  travelled  till  they  were  chilled  and 
weary,  and  almost  perishing  with  cold,  when  they  for- 
tunately discovered  a  nest  of  hogs.  It  was  no  time  to 
be  choice ;  so  routing  out  the  inmates,  they  took  posses 
sion  of  the  warm  bed,  and  slept  soundly  till  morning ! 
They  found  many  streams  on  the  way,  which  they 
were  obliged  to  wade,  or  float  across  on  logs.  Porter  was 
a  man  of  clear  religious  faith  and  great  constancy,  while 
Wollam  was  full  of  resources,  though  somewhat  reck- 
less. He  longed  for  the  Tennessee  River,  down  which 
he  had  floated  alone  once  before,  and  somewhere  on 
which  he  knew  Federal  troops  were  to  be  found.  It 
was  twenty-two  days,  however,  before  this  stream  was 
reached,  at  a  point  forty  miles  west  of  Chattanooga. 
The  worst  of  their  trials  were  now  over.  They  pressed 
a  canoe  into  the  service,  and  used  it  as  Wollam  had 
done  before,  paddling  and  floating  down  stream  at 
night,  and  hiding  it  and  themselves,  in  the  most  secret 
place  they  could  find,  during  the  day.  Two  persons 
under  such  circumstances  have  great  advantages  over 
a  solitary  traveller.  Not  only  does  companionship  as- 
sist in  keeping  hope  alive  in  each  breast,  but  one  can 
watch  while  the  other  rests,  and  thus  their  resources 
are  husbanded.  The  voyagers  met  with  no  remark- 
able adventures  until  they  reached  the  head  of  Muscle 
Shoals,  which  they  could  not  pass  on  account  of  low 
water.  Abandoning  their  canoe  here,  they  made  a  cir- 
cuit of  forty  miles  by  land,  and  came  back  to  the  river 
below  the  Shoals.  Here  they  "  borrowed"  a  skiff,  and 
continued  their  journey  until  within  twelve  miles  of 
Pittsburg  Landing,  where  they  finally  left  the  river. 
Twelve  miles  of  travel  brought  them  to  Corinth, — a 
post  occupied  by  Union  troops, — where  they  were  re- 
ceived with  all  the  welcome  that  could  be  given  to 
comrades  long  considered  dead.  They  had  passed  over 
three  hundred  miles  in  a  straight  line, — probably  double 
that  distance  by  reason  of  the  circuits  they  made,  and 


264  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

this  without  assistance,  and  while  shunning  all  about 
them  as  foes. 

Engineer  Brown,  \V.  J.  Knight,  and  E.  H.  Mason 
were  thrown  together  in  the  hurry  of  escape,  although 
only  the  former  two  had  intended  to  travel  in  company. 
Mason's  intended  comrade  was  recaptured.  Dorsey  and 
Hawkins  were  also,  at  first,  in  the  same  squad.  The 
first  night,  while  hiding  in  the  woods,  Mason  became 
very  sick,  and  for  two  days  remained  within  a  short 
distance  of  Atlanta.  This  was  very  dangerous,  and  he 
finally  told  Brown  and  Knight -to  leave  him  and  make 
good  their  own  escape.  This  the  heroic  boys  refused 
to  do,  but,  on  the  contrary,  took  him  to  a  house,  as  he 
was  growing  rapidly  worse.  They  were  well  received, 
and  given  some  food  in  the  kitchen.  Just  as  they  had 
finished  it,  three  men,  who  had  probably  seen  their 
arrival,  came  in  at  the  front  door  to  arrest  them.  This 
was  an  almost  unique  incident  in  the  history  of  our 
expedition, — the  attempt  to  arrest  any  members  of  the 
party  without  having  an  overwhelming  superiority  in 
numbers, — and,  as  might  have  been  expected,  it  miscar- 
ried. Our  comrades  did  not  deny  being  escaped  pris- 
oners, but  when  told  that  they  must  surrender  and  go 
back  to  Atlanta,  Brown,  who  hardly  knew  the  meaning 
of  fear,  gave  in  his  soft,  silvery  voice  the  very  decided 
reply,  "  No,  we  won't ;  now  see  if  we  do,"  and  with 
Knight  sprang  through  the  back  door.  There  was  no 
alternative  but  to  abandon  Mason ;  but  the  other  two 
were  the  strongest  and  most  agile  of  our  number, — had 
always  been  our  leaders  in  all  athletic  sports,  and  were 
able  to  give  a  good  account  of  themselves  either  in  a 
race  or  fight.  They  ran  round  the  end  of  the  house 
and  then  struck  towards  a  piece  of  woods  half  a  mile 
away,  keeping  under  the  shelter  of  a  fence  which  ex- 
tended towards  the  woods.  The  Confederates  ran  out 
at  the  front  door  with  their  shot-guns  just  as  the  fugi- 
tives were  flying  along  the  fence.  Not  wishing  to  try 
a  f<v>t-race,  the  former  mounted  their  horses  and  galloped 


ROMANTIC  ESCAPES.  265 

out  from  the  houf»e  down  a  lane  that  led  to  the  main 
road,  attempting  thus  to  head  them  off,  while  the  owner 
of  the  house  where  they  had  stayed  unloosed  his  pack 
of  hounds,  which  were  soon  on  the  trail  in  full  cry.  The 
fugitives  changed  their  course  to  avoid  the  chance  of  a 
shot  from  the  road,  and  to  keep  at  right  angles  with  it. 
Before  the  woodland  could  be  reached,  the  dogs  closed 
in  upon  them,  and  the  struggle  which  followed  was 
ehjrt  and  decisive.  Brown  and  Knight,  seeing  the 
dogs  gaining  upon  them,  selected  a  place  where  loose 
stones  were  abundant,  and  gave  their  barking  foes  a 
reception  which  must  have  astonished  them.  Stones 
weighing  a  pound  or  more,  hurled  at  close  quarters  by 
the  strong  arms  of  desperate  men,  are  not  to  be  despised 
by  the  most  savage  of  blood-hounds.  The  whole  pack 
vvere  soon  crippled  or  driven  into  hasty  flight. 

But  by  this  time  the  horsemen  were  near,  and  our 
hunted  comrades  were  obliged  to  run  again  at  full  speed, 
changing  their  course,  with  the  purpose  of  eluding  their 
armed  pursuers.  They  got  into  sonic  brushwood,  and 
by  "  seesawing  and  tacking"  hoped  to  get  out  of  sight 
of  the  horsemen.  But  the  dogs  still  followed  the  trail, 
though  they  dared  not  come  near,  and  the  brave  pair 
would  no  doubt  have  be«n  run  down  in  time,  by  the 
aid  of  dogs  and  horses,  had  they  not  found  a  little  creek, 
in  which  they  waded  long  enough  to  throw  the  dogs  off 
the  scent ;  then  the  expanse  of  timber  about  the  creek 
soon  hid  them  from  their  human  foes. 

That  day  they  reached  Stone  Mountain,  about  eigh- 
teen miles  east  of  Atlanta,  and  afterwards  travelled  only 
at  n  ght,  due  north,  with  the  North  Star  for  their  guide, 
From  their  daytime  hiding-places  they  frequently  saw 
parties  of  patrol  lers,  but  were  never  discovered. 

Mason  was  taken  without  resistance  and  sent  back  to 
Atlanta,  where  he  joined  us,  being  the  sixth  and  last 
man  recaptured. 

Brown  and  Knight  did  not  venture  again  to  a  house, 
and  suffered  greatly  for  want  of  food.  From  the  hous* 

M  23 


266  CAPTURING  A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

they  had  left  so  precipitately  they  travelled  six  days  with 
nothing  to  eat  save  what  the  woods  furnished.  They 
even  chewed -brush  to  appease  the  gnawings  of  hunger. 
On  the  seventh  day  they  obtained  a  great  feast  by 
catching  a  goose,  which  they  ate  raw,  and  also  procured 
a  little  of  the  corn  left  in  a  field  by  the  huskers.  Two 
days  after,  they  found  a  tree  of  apples,  very  poor,  but 
precious  to  them,  and,  after  having  devoured  as  many 
as  they  could,  carried  a  supply  with  them.  Before 
night,  however,  they  had  still  better  fortune.  They 
discovered  a  drove  of  half-grown  pigs.  To  get  one 
was  not  ea^y,  but  these  men  were  not  readily  baffled. 
Their  plan  was  soon  laid :  Knight  hid  behind  a  tree 
with  a  club,  while  Brown  tolled  a  confiding  member  of 
the  drove  by  biting  off  bits  of  apple  and  throwing 
towards  him.  He  backed  past  the  tree  where  Knight 
was  concealed,  and  when  the  pig  in  following  came  near 
enough,  the  latter  felled  it  with  one  powerful  blow,  and 
they  bore  it  away  in  triumph.  That  night  they  found 
a  burnt  brush-heap,  and,  as  some  of  the  coals  were  not 
extinct,  they  made  a  fire  and  feasted  on  roast  pig.  They 
carried  off  what  they  could  not  eat,  and  it  took  the 
edge  from  famine  for  a  long  while. 

When  ten  days  out  they  crossed  the  Chattahoochee 
on  a  raft  made  of  rails  tied  together  with  bark.  At 
length  they  came  into  the  mountains,  where  travel  at 
night  for  famishing  men  was  intolerably  difficult.  But, 
though  they  knew  it  not,  they  were  near  friends.  The 
border  country  between  Tennessee  and  North  Caro- 
lina was  always  predominantly  loyal.  Accident  led  to 
the  discovery  of  those  who  were  glad  to  give  them 
help.  In  crossing  an  old  clearing,  which  seemed  de- 
serted, they  came  out  unexpectedly  in  front  of  a  lonely 
looking  log  house,  where  two  men  stood  on  the  porch. 
Brown  and  Knight  were  so  hungry  that  they  resolved 
to  take  the  risk  of  asking  for  dinner.  As  there  were 
only  two  men,  they  thought  they  could  not  be  arrested, 
especially  if  they  first  got  something  to  eat.  They  pre- 


ROMANTIC  ESCAPES.  267 

lended  to  be  rebel  soldiers,  who  had  been  sick  and  were 
now  trying  to  get  back  to  their  regiments.  The  mistress 
01  the  house  gave  them  food,  but  eyed  them  closely,  and 
soon  accused  them  of  being  "  Yankees."  Denial  was 
use/ess,  and  they  "soon  found  each  other  out."  These 
Union  people  put  them  on  the  Southern  branch  of  the 
Underground  Railroad,  and  they  arrived  at  Somerset, 
Kentucky,  on  the  25th  of  November, — a  month  and 
nine  days  after  leaving  Atlanta. 

The  course  of  the  next  pair,  Dorsey  and  Hawkins, 
was  also  northward,  and  in  nearly  the  same  track.  In 
the  early  part  it  presents  marked  peculiarities,  espe- 
cially in  the  fact  that  much  help  was  obtained  from 
the  negroes.  These  sympathized  with  all  fugitives  on 
general  principles,  and  still  more  when  the  fugitives 
were  Union  soldiers.  The  latter  part  of  this  narrative 
passes  over  the  same  ground  as  the  former.  It  is  a 
trifling  but  noticeable  coincidence  that  four  of  the  eight 
who  escaped  came  to  the  town  of  Somerset,  Kentucky, 
and  two  others  to  the  ship  "  Somerset." 

Dorsey  shall  tell  his  own  story,  with  a  few  abridg- 
ments. He  hurt  his  ankle  in  the  first  terrible  run,  and 
this  caused  him  great  suffering.  He  also  met  a  coun- 
tryman just  before  reaching  the  woods,  but  having 
armed  himself  with  a  large  stone  in  each  hand,  and 
looking  dangerous,  he  was  not  stopped.  The  rapid 
firing  of  the  enemy  led  him  to  believe  that  many  of 
our  number  were  killed.  We  take  up  his  story  at  the 
entrance  of  the  forest.  The  first  touch  is  very  graphic. 

"  Passing  a  little  way  into  the  woods,  I  found  Brown  an< 
Knight  leaning  against  a  tree,  gasping  for  breath.  I  leaned 
against  the  same  tree.  None  of  us  could  speak.  I  thought  for 
a.  moment  or  two  that  each  breath  would  be  my  last.  As  we  re- 
covered a  little,  one  gasped,  'Guess  we'd  better  go,  boys.'  On 
we  went,  but  not  so  fast  as  before,  for  none  of  our  pursuers  were 
now  in  sight.  We  were  soon  joined  by  Hawkins,  Mason,  and 
the  escaped  deserter,  so  that  we  were  six  in  all.  We  lay  in  an 
open  field  that  night,  judging  it  to  be  safer  than  the  woods,  and 
huddled  together  as  a  partial  protection  from  the  cold.  All 
night  long  we  heard  the  baying  of  the  hounds  and  the  frequent 


268  CAPTURING  A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

discharge  of  firearms.  The  distance  from  which  these  sound* 
came  indicated  that  the  pursuers  were  beyond  us,  and  that  our 
best  chance  was  in  hiding  and  allowing  them  to  pass  still  farther 
ahead.  The  next  day  we  were  fortunate  enough  to  discover 
gome  luscious  wild  grapes,  which  we  devoured  with  the  greatest 
relish.  Our  mouths  afterwards  were  very  sore,  and  the  grapes 
may  possibly  have  been  the  cause  of  the  injury.  The  same  day 
we  were  surprised  by  some  citizens  with  shot-guns,  but  outran 
them  and  escaped. 

"Brown,  Mason,  and  Knight  left  us,  the  latter  being  tick. 
The  deserter  continued  with  us  a  day  longer.  He  then  wished 
to  visit  a  house  for  food,  but  we,  though  very  hungry,  did  not 
think  it  advisable,  and  parted  with  all  good  wishes.  I  have 
heard  that  he  got  safely  to  Washington,  D.  C.,  but,  returning  to 
his  home  in  Northern  Georgia,  was  arrested  and  executed  as  a 
deserter  from  the  Confederate  army,  into  which  he  had  bees 
conscripted  at  first. 

"  On  the  fourth  day  out  we  met  two  of  our  pursuers,  who 
were  apparently  coming  back  discouraged,  but  easily  eluded 
them  by  hiding  under  some  bushes.  We  now  began  to  travel 
more  rapidly,  hiding  by  day  and  continuing  on  our  way  by  night, 
directed  by  the  stars,  which  Hawkins  understood  very  well. 

"  On  the  eighth  day  out  we  came  to  the  ferry  of  the  Chatta- 
hoochee  River,  far  to  the  northeast  of  Atlanta.  We  took  rails 
from  a  neighboring  fence,  and  began  to  build  a  raft,  when  we 
observed  a  lighted  torch  approaching  the  opposite  side  of  the 
river.  When  it  came  nearer  we  saw  that  the  party  accompany- 
ing it  were  negroes,  two  in  number,  with  four  dogs.  Hawkins, 
who  had  spent  some  years  in  the  South,  and  understood  the  dis- 
position of  the  negroes,  felt  disposed  to  trust  them.  Accordingly, 
we  asked  them  to  ferry  us  over,  which  they  readily  did,  we 
giving  them  a  little  tobacco  we  had,  and  which  we  could  not 
use  because  of  our  sore  mouths.  They  professed  themselves 
Unionists,  and  we  told  them  that  we  were  Union  soldiers.  The 
fact  of  belonging  to  the  railroad  party  we  did  not  disclose  until 
we  were  within  the  Union  lines.  One  went  for  provisions,  while 
the  0ther  remained  with  us,  as  if  to  allay  any  suspicions  we 
might  entertain.  They  told  us  that  we  were  forty-eight  miles 
northeast  of  Atlanta,  in  the  region  of  deserted  gold-mines,  tnd 
proposed  to  hide  us  in  one  of  those  mines,  supply  us  with  quilts 
and  provisions  until  we  were  well  rested,  and  then  direct  us  on 
our  northward  way.  It  would  probably  have  been  better  to 
have  accepted  their  kind  offer,  which  I  think  Hawkins  wished 
to  do,  but  I  had  some  fear  ;  so  we  declined. 

"  The  one  who  had  gone  for  provisions  returned  with  a  goodiy 
•upply  of  boiled  pork  and  beans,  mashed  Irish  potatoes,  sweet 
potatoes,  and  corn-bread.  What  a  feast  I  It  was  the  first  food 
worthy  the  name  we  had  eaten  for  six  long  months  I  We  did 
it  ample  justice,  and  what  was  left  carried  away  with  us.  Our 
African  friends  »n>o  gave  us  a  piece  of  a  broken  butcher-knife 


ROMANTIC  ESCAPES.  269 

that  was  of  great  service.  They  also  gave  us  invaluable  direc- 
tions, telling  us  where  the  rebel  troops  lay,  and  where  we  could 
find  a  colored  slave,  who  would  ferry  us  over  the  Hiawassee 
(which  runs  down  from  North  Carolina  into  the  Tennessee),  as 
they  had  done  over  the  Chattahoochee.  We  assured  them  that 
they  would  soon  be  free,  and  parted  with  a  mutual  '  God  bless 
you  I1 

"With  thankful  hearts  we  pressed  on,  made  a  good  night's 
journey,  and  then  laid  by  until  evening  of  the  next  day.  See- 
ing a  house  on  the  edge  of  the  woods,  we  watched  it  until  assured 
that  only  an  old  man  and  woman  were  there,  when  we  went  boldly 
up  to  it  and  asked  for  supper,  which  was  given  with  some  reluc- 
tance. 

"  Early  in  the  evening  journey  we  came  to  *  small  stream,  and 
attempting  to  cross  on  a  fallen  tree,  I  fell  into  the  water,  and  was 
thoroughly  soaked.  From  this  cause  I  suffered  greatly  with  cold. 
Some  hours  after  we  came  to  a  barn,  the  mows  of  which  were 
filled  with  corn-blades.  We  were  glad  to  bury  ourselves  out  of 
sight  in  the  fodder,  where  we  grew  warm,  and  slept  all  day.  It 
was  comfortable,  but  we  paid  for  it  by  a  terrible  fright.  Some 
cavalrymen  came  into  the  stable  under  the  mows  and  took  out 
their  horses.  We  could  hear  their  conversation  and  the  jingle 
of  their  spurs,  and  scarcely  dared  to  breathe.  But  they  left  us 
in  safety.  We  stayed  a  day  longer,  as  the  bed  was  the  best  we 
had  found  since  our  first  capture.  But  a  negro  boy  came  up  to 
hunt  eggs,  and  found  us.  He  was  so  frightened  that  we  could  not 
pacify  him,  and,  fearing  an  alarm,  we  hastened  to  the  woods  once 
more.  Some  negroes  were  again  met,  starting  on  their  favorite 
amusement, — an  opossum-hunt.  On  application  they  gave  us  a 
magnificent  treat, — a  hatful  of  apples,  a  half  'pone,'  and  two 
or  three  pounds  of  boiled  beef  on  a  bone.  This  supply  lasted  for 
several  days. 

"  On  the  night  journey  we  were  much  annoyed  by  the  barking 
of  dogs  at  the  houses  we  passed.  Once  we  were  seen,  but,  pre- 
tending to  be  rebels  on  the  way  to  our  regiments,  we  succeeded 
so  well  in  lulling  suspicion  that  an  old  man  sent  a  message  to  his 
son,  who  was  in  the  rebel  army,  by  us,  and  added  some  corn- 
bread  for  the  messengers. 

"  I  here  became  more  lame  than  ever,  by  reason  of  an  unfor- 
tunate misstep,  and  had  to  walk  by  leaning  part  of  my  weight 
upon  my  faithful  comrade.  We  came  to  a  wide  river  we  could 
not  cross,  and,  going  back  into  the  fields,  lay  on  the  damp  ground 
till  morning.  If  I  ever  tasted  cold,  it  was  then.  Hawkins  be- 
came reckless  from  suffering,  and  was  disposed  to  go  to  a  house, 
even  at  the  risk  of  capture.  But  I  demurred,  and  we  waited  for 
an  opportunity  to  communicate  with  the  ever-faithful  negroes. 
We  found  a  nut,  and,  watching  it  some  time,  saw  none  but  a 
black  woman  there.  She  readily  responded  to  our  appeal  for 
help,  gave  us  a  hot  breakfast,  a  fire  to  warm  by,  and  some 
parched  com  to  carry  on  our  journey.  She  also  directed  us  to  a 

23*  ' 


270  CAPTURING    A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

ford.  Thanking  her  from  our  hearts,  we  returned  to  the  river, 
got  over,  and  concealed  ourselves  in  the  woods  on  the  other  side. 

"  With  the  coming  of  night  we  once  more  took  up  our  weary 
way.  Towards  morning  we  saw  a  large  encampment  of  whites 
and  colored  people.  All  were  asleep  except  one  of  the  latter. 
We  approached,  and,  in  a  whisper,  asked  him  who  they  were. 
He  told  us  of  the  retreat  of  Bragg's  army  from  Kentucky,  and 
that  these  were  a  band  of  fugitives  coming  South  with  their  slaves 
to  avoid  the  Union  army.  To  us  this  was  a  serious  matter.  A 
large  army,  with  all  its  baggage,  and  the  country  full  of  pickets, 
directly  in  our  front,  was  <*  great  addition  to  our  danger.  The 
colored  man  gave  us  all  the  scanty  information  he  possessed  about 
the  position  of  the  army.  Hawkins.,  spying  a  covered  skillet  near 
the  fire,  winked  at  our  friend,  got  an  assenting  nod,  and  reached 
for  it.  It  had  two  baked  sweet  potatoes,  which  we  appropriated, 
and  departed  as  noiselessly  as  we  had  advanced.  Twenty-four 
hours  after,  we  had  reached  the  Hiawassee  Iliver.  We  called 
lustily  for  the  ferryman,  and,  to  our  exceeding  delight,  were 
answered  by  the  very  slave  our  colored  friends  on  the  Chatta- 
hoochee  had  said  would  be  willing  to  ferry  us  over. 

"  With  his  counsel,  for  we  trusted  him  with  the  secret  of  our 
being  escaped  prisoners,  we  resolved  to  go  down  the  Hiawassee 
to  its  junction  with  the  Tennessee.  To  do  this,  however,  it  would 
be  necessary  to  pass  round  the  rebel  camp  at  Charleston,  a  few 
miles  farther  down  the  river.  This  was  Friday,  and,  by  waiting 
until  Saturday,  the  young  man  could  get  a  pass  good  until  Mon- 
day, and  could  pilot  us  around  Charleston.  We  resolved  to  wait. 
He  treated  us  royally, — shared  his  scanty  allowance  of  food  with 
us,  for  he  had  only  a  slave's  rations,  doctored  my  ankle,  kept  us 
in  his  best  bed — a  feather  one — overnight,  though,  for  pruden- 
tial reasons,  we  hid  in  the  woods  during  the  day,  and,  on  start- 
ing, gave  us  a  bottle  of  molasses  and  a  piece  of  pork.  We  floated 
down  near  camp  in  a  '  dug-out'  canoe,  then  left  the  river  and 
surrounded  the  enemy.  Our  pilot  was  obliged  to  leave  us  before 
we  got  back  to  the  river  below  the  town,  but  he  put  us  on  the 
banks  of  a  small  stream,  which  we  had  only  to  follow  down  to 
its  mouth.  This  we  reached  by  two  P.M.,  and  amused  ourselves 
by  cracking  walnuts  and  hickory-nuts  in  a  solitary  place  until 
dark,  when  we  hunted  up  an  old  dilapidated  canoe.  It  was  a 
miserable  boat,  and  gave  us  enough  to  do  in  bailing  as  well  as 
paddling  it.  We  soon  saw  a  better  craft,  with  good  paddles,  tied  up, 
and,  as  the  owner  was  not  there,  we  'traded'  without  difficulty. 

"  The  stars  were  shining  brightly  when  we  again  pushed  off, 
and  the  water  was  as  clear  as  crystal,  though  not  deep.  We  dried 
our  wet  clothes,  and  felt  very  much  more  comfortable.  Save  an 
occasional  whisper  between  us  and  the  soft  ripple  of  the  oars, 
silence  was  unbroken.  This  was  the  most  peaceful  and  satisfac- 
tory night's  travel  we  had  yet  made. 

"  At  daybreak  we  hid  the  boat  and  nestled  away  in  some  dry 
leaves,  and  after  the  sun  got  high  enough  to  warm  us,  slept  bj 


ROMANTIC  ESCAPES.  271 

Urns  till  afternoon.  TUien  we  noticed  an  island  half  a  mile  far- 
ther down  the  river,  and,  as  we  had  seen  nobody  the  whole  day, 
and  the  place  appeared  perfectly  solitary,  we  resolved  to  explore 
it.  Nothing  was  found,  but  we  saw  a  house  on  the  east  bank, 
which  we  watched  until  sundown,  and  seeing  only  women  about 
it,  resolved  to  try  for  supper.  We  got  a  good  square  meal,  but 
judge  our  dismay  at  finding  a  good  number  of  ladies,  and,  soon 
after,  a  few  men,  also,  at  the  place.  It  was  a  '  quilting,'  and 
they  were  to  dance  that  evening.  But  we  told  a  new  story.  We 
had  been  working  at  a  saw-mill  in  the  mountains,  were  now  out 
of  employment,  and  were  going  to  Chattanooga  to  look  for  a  job. 
They  warned  us  that  we  would  be  arrested  at  Chattanooga,  and 
would  have  to  go  to  jail  or  join  the  army.  They  seemed  to  care 
nothing  for  the  war,  and  to  have  no  disposition  to  molest  us. 
We  assured  them  that  we  would  be  all  right  in  Chattanooga,  as 
we  were  personally  acquainted  with  General  Leadbetter.  They 
looked  doubtful,  and  in  parting  they  said,  in  a  rather  insinuat 
ing  manner,  that  they  wished  us  a  safe  journey  to  Chattanooga. 
Probably  they  were  Unionists,  but  we  dared  not  risk  a  discovery. 
I  tried,  unsuccessfully,  to  steal  a  quilt,  which  we  greatly  needed. 
The  night  was  overcast,  the  water  was  very  shallow  in  places, 
and  some  tree-tops  were  in  the  way.  We  had  to  get  out,  pull 
our  boat  out  of  these  obstructions  and  into  deeper  water,  and 
then,  wet  to  the  skin,  to  re-embark  and  paddle  on. 

"  About  midnight  we  came  to  what  seemed  to  be  a  ferry,  where 
the  river  was  deeper  and  wider  than  it  had  been  before.  Sud- 
denly two  shots  were  fired  at  us.  We  lay  down  in  the  bottom 
of  the  boat,  and,  taking  in  our  paddles,  let  her  float  down  stream, 
while  we  did  not  move  a  muscle.  I  suppose  it  was  a  picket  of 
the  enemy,  who,  after  firing  once,  concluded  that  our  boat  was 
only  a  floating  log,  and  took  no  further  trouble.  After  getting, 
as  we  supposed,  out  of  danger,  we  again  seized  the  paddles,  and 
an  hour  of  vigorous  work  brought  us  to  the  river's  mouth,  and 
out  on  the  broader  Tennessee. 

"  We  were  very  reluctant  to  abandon  the  river  navigation,  but 
it,  was  manifestly  dangerous  to  continue  it  further,  and  useless  as 
well,  unless  we  were  prepared  to  take  the  risk  of  running  by 
Chattanooga.  So  we  rowed  to  the  north  side  of  the  Tennessee, 
and  turned  our  trusty  craft  adrift,  while  we  started  across  the 
mountains.  The  first  road  we  crossed  gave  evidence  of  the  pas- 
sage of  a  large  body  of  troops,  and  thus  warned  us  that  we  were 
probably  in  danger  of  becoming  entangled  in  the  scouts  and  de- 
tachments of  Bragg's  army,  now  on  its  retreat  from  Kentucky 
Two  boys  we  found  by  a  fire  in  a  school-house — they  had  been 
out  '  coon '-hunting — confirmed  this  report.  Soon  we  saw  their 
camp-fires,  and  ascending  a  mountain,  where  we  supposed  we 
would  be  safer  than  in  the  valleys,  waited  for  morning.  When 
it  came,  an  appalling  sight  met  our  view, — a  large  division  of 
Bragg's  army,  with  its  seemingly  endless  baggage-trains,  well 
guarded  by  cavalry,  was  spread  out  beneath  UB.  All  day  long 


272  CAPTURING   A   LOCOMOTIVE 

we  watched  their  movements  from  our  eyrie  with  breath.** 
anxiety.  We  resolved  at  night  to  turn  to  the  northeast  instead 
of  keeping  due  north,  as  we  had  intended.  Before  we  had  gont 
far,  Hawkins  whispered  in  my  ear,  '  Dorsey,  we  mustn't  crack 
any  corn  to-night.'  Rebel  pickets  and  scouts  were  no  doubt  01. 
every  side  of_us.  The  mountain-side  was  steep  and  covered  with 
loose  stones,  where  travelling,  even  by  day,  would  have  been  dvt- 
ficult;  at  night,  in  the  presence  of  the  enemy,  it  was  terrible 
We  came  to  a  picket,  and  were  only  saved  from  running  rigbi 
intc  it  by  the  muffling  of  a  horse.  We  slipped  away  a  short  dis 
tance  from  the  road,  and  lay  down.  Soon  a  squad  of  cavalr* 
passed  up  the  road,  and  we  crossed  it  right  behind  them,  anxious 
to  get  out  of  that  dangerous  neighborhood  while  the  sound  oi 
their  hoofs  drowned  any  noise  we  might  make.  We  moved  verv 
cautiously,  again  ascended  the  mountain-side,  and  near  daybreak 
came  to  a  halt  and  went  into  camp, — that  is,  hid  in  the  brush 

"  When  the  light  came  we  could  see  the  enemy  no  more,  but 
heard  his  wagons  rumbling  off  in  the  distance.  The  immediate 
danger  from  that  source  was  over.  Our  stock  of  provision 
which  was  only  a  little  parched  corn,  was  almost  exhausted  .  and 
as  the  mountain  seemed  to  be  uninhabited,  we  resolved  to  rno*t- 
forward  in  the  afternoon.  We  found  a  negro,  who,  for  a  wondei 
could  not  or  would  not  give  any  provisions  or  information.  Lat* 
in  the  night  we  rested,  tying  some  bushes  together  to  make  s 
rude  shelter,  and  both  sleeping,  for  nature  was  almost  overcome 
Food  and  water  were  also  very  low,  but  in  the  morning  we  pressed 
on,  halting  when  our  waning  strength  failed,  and  going  on  when 
strength  allowed. 

"  Very  impressive  were  some  of  the  hours  spent  in  watcbiug 
on  the  Cumberland  Mountains.  One  of  us  would  sleep  in  per- 
fect trust,  while  the  other  watched  and  thought  The  lofty  peake 
the  wide  landscape,  and  the  rising  and  setting  sun  were  doubly 
solemn  in  the  profound  silence,  and  amid  the  mighty  forests  of 
that  region.  I  can  never  forget  the  beauty  of  nature  associatec 
with  so  much  of  peril. 

"  But  there  were  other  hours  of  very  prosaic  toil.  Uuct  »* 
had  to  force  our  way  on  hands  and  knees  through  a  mass  of  bneri- 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  wide.  Several  times  we  hunted  persimmon.*- 
by  moonlight, — Hawkins  shaking  them  off,  while  I  crawled  _>i 
hands  and  knees  feeling  for  them.  Many  adventures  similai  \A 
those  already  narrated  were  encountered.  Near  a  ford  of  tnt 
Scquatchie  Kiver  we  found  a  quilted  skirt  hanging  out,  which  wt 
appropriated,  tore  in  two,  and,  making  a  hole  in  the  middle  of 
each  piece  for  our  heads,  found  ourselves  possessed  of  passablf 
undershirts,  which  we  needed  sorely,  as  it  was  now  colder  thai 
•ver.  The  ford  was  waded  with  our  clothes  taken  off  and  tier 
on  our  heads. 

"  For  two  days  more  we  travelled  arid  rested  alternately  ui  tft» 
mountains,  hungry,  wet  with  the  rain  that  now  begar  '-•  '*•• 
and  as  solitary  as  if  we  were  the  only  inhabitants  of  ui«-  £•••••»•. 


ROMANTIC  ESCAPES.  273 

Near  sundown  of  the  second  day  we  heard  some  wood-choppers 
far  below  us.  "We  were  so  weak  that  we  repeatedly  fell  as  we  de- 
scended the  mountain-side.  Hunger  was  so  extreme  that  we  re- 
solved to  try  for  food  from  them,  using  the  best  story  we  couli 
frame.  We  told  them  we  were  Confederate  soldiers,  who  had 
been  left  in  a  hospital,  from  which  we  had  run  away,  and  were 
now  trying  to  get  to  our  regiments  ;  also  that  we  were  without 
money,  and  wanted  food.  They  refused  to  do  anything  for  us ; 
said  that  soldiers  had  already  eaten  them  nearly  out.  This  re- 
ception encouraged  us.  To  test  them  further  we  talked  of  our 
cause,  its  justice,  certainty  of  success,  etc.  They  did  not  pretend 
to  agree  with  us,  and,  finally,  told  us  that  we  were  in  what  had 
been  called  '  Lincoln  District,'  becauso  only  two  votes  were  cast 
there  for  secession.  The  conversation  led  them  to  a  flat  avowal 
that  they  were  Union  men.  We  then  cautiously  revealed  the 
fact  that  we  were  soldiers  on  the  same  side,  and  the  hospitality 
which  had  been  denied  before  was  now  readily  extended." 

This  proved  to  be  a  station  on  the  "Underground 
Railroad,"  which  had  been  organized  since  the  opening 
of  the  war  for  the  escape  of  Union  men  and  prisoners 
to  the  Union  lines  in  Kentucky.  After  the  fugitives 
had  completely  proved  their  character,  they  were  put 
under  the  conduct  of  a  local  celebrity,  known  as  "  Red 
Fox,"  from  his  skill  in  eluding  the  enemy.  He  con- 
ducted them  for  some  distance,  and  gave  them  direc- 
tions to  the  next  point,  and  from  this  they  were  di- 
rected to  another.  Thus  they  were  forwarded  swiftly 
and  in  comparative  safety.  Dorsey  dwells  with  great 
gusto  upon  the  good  food  and  generous  treatment  re- 
ceived from  these  loyal  mountaineers,  who  had  no  hope 
of  a  reward,  but  were  glad  to  do  anything  for  their  loved 
and  imperilled  country.  His  expressions  of  gratitude 
are  also  frequent  and  hearty.  One  man  gave  them  the 
only  dollar  he  had,  and  would  not  hear  of  a  refusal. 
Some  very  narrow  escapes  were  run  even  after  they 
were  thus  among  friends,  but  they  finally  reached  Som- 
erset, Kentucky.  At  first  they  were  received  with 
some  suspicion  by  the  Union  officials,  but,  as  soon  as 
their  true  character  was  established,  they  enjoyed  the 
enthusiastic  welcome  accorded  to  each  one  of  the  rail- 
road party  who  returned  from  "the  valley  of  the 
•hadow  of  death." 


274  CAfTVMSU   A   LOCOMOTIVE. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

FBOM  ATLANTA   TO  THE  OT7LP. 

No  fugitives  passed  through  more  romantic  adven- 
tures than  Wood  and  Wilson.  The  southward  course 
they  took  saved  them  from  an  energetic  pursuit,  but 
their  unwillingness  to  trust  the  negroes  exposed  them 
to  imminent  peril  of  starvation.  The  idea  that  any  of 
our  party  would  seek  for  the  Gulf  blockading  squadron 
probably  never  entered  the  head  of  any  pursuer.  It 
was  well  that  this  route  was  chosen  by  Wilson,  for  in 
no  other  way  could  he  possibly  have  succeeded  in  car- 
rying his  sick  comrade  with  him.  The  manner  in 
which  poor  Wood,  who  had  been  for  months  suffering 
from  fever,  and  was  scarcely  able  to  walk  about  the 
jail,  was  taken  from  "Atlanta  to  the  sea"  by  a  starving 
comrade,  would  seem  a  most  improbable  invention  if 
met  in  a  work  of  fiction.  I  extract  the  complete  ac- 
count of  the  escape,  with  a  few  unimportant  omissions, 
from  "The  Adventures  of  Alf.  Wilson,"  written  by 
himself,  and  first  published  in  book  form  in  Toledo, 
1880.  The  account  begins  in  the  Atlanta  jail-yard. 
The  necessity  for  immediate  fligh-t  was  first  seen  by 
Wood,  who  exclaimed, — 

"  'Alf,  come  on,  quick  !  the  boys  are  getting  over  the  fence  at 
tho  back  of  the  jail ;  hurry  up,  for  there's  a  company  of  guard* 
coming  double-quick.' 

"This  was  my  old  comrade,  Mark  Wood,  and  his  voice  was 
the  first  warning  I  had  of  the  danger  that  threatened  me,  or  of 
Che  necessary  change  in  our  programme. 

'"Then  bounce  that  fence  I'  I  yelled.  We  both  reached  the 
top  of  the  high  fence  at  the  same"  instant,  and  not  a  second  tw 
toon,  for,  as  I  glanced  over  my  shoulder  from  the  fence-top,  "• 
•aw  the  guards  with  gleaming  muskets  pouring  in  at  the  gat* 


FROM  ATLANTA    TO   THE   OULF.  276 

and  before  I  could  throw  my  leg  over  and  spring  off  a  volley 
was  fired,  the  balls  rattling  and  whizzing  all  about  us.  One  bul- 
let struck  the  picket  under  my  thigh,  and  so  close  that  the  splin- 
ters lacerated  my  flesh,  and  as  my  feet  struck  the  ground  on  the 
outside,  I  said  to  Mark,  '  I  am  hit.' 

"  '  Get  up  and  run  like* !'  exclaimed  Mark. 

"  I  was  on  my  feet  in  an  instant,  not  knowing  whether  my 
thigh  was  shattered  or  not.  As  I  ran  I  clapped  my  hand  there 
to  see  if  it  bled  freely.  I  pulled  away  a  lot  of  splinters,  and  had 
the  satisfaction  of  finding  that  I  had  received  only  a  slight  flesh 
wound  made  by  the  picket  splinters.  Never  did  I  make  better 
use  of  my  legs  ;  there  was  need  of  it,  too,  for  the  balls  were  spat- 
ting about  us  in  the  dirt  uncomfortably  near.  They  came  so 
thick  and  closely  at  one  time  that  I  was  almost  certain  that  one 
or  both  of  us  would  he  hit ;  but  we  answered  their  cries  of  '  Halt ! 
halt!'  by  springing  forward  with  all  the  speed  we  could  com- 
mand. 

"  It  was  about  a  mile  before  we  struck  the  cover  of  woods,  and 
then  the  trees  were  so  scattering  that  they  afforded  only  a  doubt- 
ful place  for  concealment.  It  was  now  every  man  for  himself, 
and,  like  the  Duke  of  "Wellington  at  Waterloo,  we  longed  for 
darkness  or  some  other  friendly  interposition  in  our  behalf. 
Wood  had  come  up  with  me,  and  we  dodged  stealthily  from  one 
thicket  to  another  until  it  began  to  grow  quite  dark,  when  we 
breathed  easier  and  acted  more  deliberately,  although  we  well 
knew  we  were  not  out  of  danger  yet. 

"  About  this  time,  we  became  aware  that  we  were  approach- 
ing a  public  road.  We  soon  had  warning  that  it  was  much  bet- 
ter to  halt,  and  not  attempt  to  cross  the  road.  The  sound  of  gal- 
loping horsemen  in  great  numbers  and  the  clanking  of  sabres 
could  be  heard  near  by.  We  were  so  nearly  out  of  breath  that 
we  could  run  no  farther  for  the  present,  and,  on  looking  hastily 
about,  discovered  a  low,  scrubby  pine-bush  surrounded  with 
shrubbery.  We  both  darted  under  its  protecting  shelter,  and 
lay  flat  on  the  ground  on  our  f&ces,  neither  having  spoken  a  word 
to  the  other  for  some  minutes,  on  account  of  our  great  exhaus- 
tion. We  were  so  near  the  road  that  we  could  plainly  see  all 
the  movements  of  the  rebel  cavalry,  who  were  deploying  their 
line  something  in  the  manner  of  skirmishers. 

"  This  presented  an  unexpected  difficulty  in  our  way.  If  we 
had  reached  the  road  two  minutes  sooner  we  might  have  crossed 
without  being  seen,  but  we  could  not  have  been  there  an  instant 
sooner  than  we  were,  unless  we  had  had  wings,  for  we  had  both 
run  until  we  were  ready  to  fall  in  our  tracks.  We  had  become 
separated  from  the  rest  of  the  party,  but  could  still  hear  the  re- 
ports of  muskets,  and  knew  that  the  pursuit  was  still  going  on, 
but  how  many  of  the  escaping  party  had  been  killed  was  beyond 
our  knowledge,  though  I  had  seen  Captain  Fry  reeling  and  stum- 
bling in  a  manner  that  led  me  to  fear  he  was  shot.  We  were 
thus  compelled  to  lie  quietly  for  some  time  While  w«  were 


276  CAPTUR1SQ   A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

waiting  here  the  cavalry  was  relieved  by  infantry,  and  formed 
into  squads  to  scour  the  woods. 

"  The  place  where  we  lay  was  not  over  fifteen  steps  from  where 
the  infantry  sentinel  was  stationed.  We  could  hear  every  word 
he  spoke  to  the  man  on  the  next  post.  •  Their  comments  on  the 
affair  at  the  jail  would  have  been  amusing  to  us  under  less  serious 
circumstances,  and  I  wish  I  could  give  their  words  exactly  now, 
for  they  were  ludicrous  enough. 

"  Some  time  late  in  the  evening,  while  we  were  still  lying 
under  the  bush,  we  became  aware  that  some  one  was  approach- 
ing us  very  quietly.  In  the  dark  we  could  recognize  the  dim 
outlines  of  two  men,  and  we  felt  certain,  as  they  came  so  near  us 
that  we  could  have  almost  touched  them,  that  it  was  two  of  our 
comrades  ;  but  we  dare  not  even  whisper  to  them,  lest  we  should 
cause  them  to  betray  themselves,  and,  perhaps,  us  too.  They 
were,  evidently,  from  the  cautious  manner  in  which  they  moved, 
aware  that  they  were  very  close  to  the  rebel  guards.  These  men, 
I  afterwards  learned,  were  Porter  and  Wollam. 

"  After  waiting  a  short  time  to  see  if  they  were  discovered, 
and  hearing  nothing  of  them,  we  began  to  crawl  out,  concluding 
that  there  was  no  probability  of  the  guards  leaving  that  night. 
I  should  judge  the  sentries  were  stationed  about  thirty  paces 
apart,  and  to  get  out  there  was  no  alternative  but  to  pass  be- 
tween them.  I  selected  a  place  and  crawled  to  the  other  side  of 
the  road  safely,  and  then  lay  perfectly  still,  while  Mark  did  the 
same.  My  hair  fairly  stood  on  end  as  he  wriggled  along,  for  it 
seemed  to  me  once  or  twice  as  if  one  of  the  sentries  would  cer- 
tainly discover  him  before  he  would  reach  me.  This  was  one  of 
our  most  narrow  escapes. 

"  We  were  no  more  than  safely  across  the  road  when  a  new 
and  unseen  obstacle,  in  the  shape  of  a  high  fence,  presented  itself, 
over  which  we  must  climb  before  we  could  breathe  free.  We 
crawled  carefully  to  the  fence,  and  by  great  patience  and  much 
care,  one  at  a  time,  managed  to  get  over  without  attracting  the 
attention  of  the  guards.  We  felt  as  if  we  had  accomplished 
quite  an  achievement  when  at  last  we  had  escaped  beyond  the 
fence  a  few  steps  and  found  ourselves  in  an  open  field,  where  we 
could  push  ahead  noiselessly,  and  when,  at  last,  we  got  away  en- 
tirely out  of  hearing,  we  struck  out  on  a  full  run.  At  the  far 
tide  of  the  field  we  came  to  a  small  stream,  in  which  we  travelled 
some  distance  in  the  water,  to  take  precaution  against  pursuit  by 
dogs.  Soon  after,  we  struck  a  thick  piece  of  woods  on  the  slop« 
of  a  hill-side,  which  we  continued  to  ascend  under  the  thick  fo 
liage  for  some  time.  But,  at  last,  exhausted  Nature  asserted  hei 
full  sway,  and  we  were  compelled  to  lie  down  and  rest  out  of 
iheer  inability  to  go  farther. 

"  Up  to  this  time,  I  think,  neither  of  us  had  spoken  any  n.ort? 
than  if  we  had  been  dumb.  As  we  threw  ourselves  on  the 
ground,  without  breath  or  strength  to  go  farther,  we  began  to 
raaJiz*  the  weak,  helpless  condition  we  were  in.  It  did  not  aj> 


FROM  ATLANTA    TO   THE   GULF.  277 

pear  as  if  our  limbs  were  strong  enough  to  carry  us  five  miles  a 
day.  When  we  looked  forward  to  the  long  journey  ahead  of  us, 
the  hunger  and  fatigue,  it  looked  a  little  discouraging.  I  think, 
however,  a  portion  of  this  sense  of  physical  prostration  was 
caused  by  the  sudden  relaxation  from  the  great  mental  strain 
and  excitement  which  had  been  upon  us  from  the  time  of  the 
jail-break  and  immediately  preceding  it.  This,  with  the  intense 
exertion  ic  running,  in  our  enfeebled  condition,  had  wellnigh 
unnerved  us.  We  were  wild,  too,  almost,  with  joy  at  our  escape. 

"  But  we  had  but  little  time  to  rest,  rejoice,  or  feel  thankful 
in.  Many  contingencies  yet  stood  between  us  and  the  goal  cf 
our  hopes.  Many  armed  enemies ;  many  long,  weary  miles  of 
travel ;  many  rivers  lay  across  our  path,  and  many  days  of  hun- 
ger and  many  sleepless  nights,  if  we  would  succeed. 

"  Before  we  escaped  from  the  prison  I  studied  over  the  subject 
of  routes  very  carefully.  I  had  seen  enough  of  night  travel  in 
the  mountains  about  Chattanooga  and  along  the  Tennessee 
River,  and  well  knew  that  the  probabilities  of  our  being  picked 
up,  should  we  go  in  that  direction,  would  be  very  much  greater. 
I  therefore  decided  in  my  own  mind  that  I  would  strike  out  for 
the  Gulf,  and  try  to  reach  some  of  the  vessels  of  the  Federal 
blockading  squadron.  While  this  would  bo  much  the  longest 
route, — the  distance,  as  near  as  I  could  calculate,  being  ovei 
three  hundred  miles, — I  thought  there  would  be  less  vigilance 
and  liability  of  pursuit  in  that  direction.  In  this  conjecture  it 
turned  out  that  I  was  correct.  The  country  was  entirely  un- 
known to  me,  except  a  slight  general  idea  I  had  of  it  from  the 
school  geographies.  I  only  knew  that  the  waters  of  the  Chatta- 
hoochee  River,  which  flowed  west  of  Atlanta,  entered  the  Gulf. 

"  While  we  rested  on  the  hill-side  I  communicated,  in  a  whis- 
per, to  Mark  my  views,  and  he  readily  agreed  that  he  would  go 
in  any  direction  I  thought  best.  Accordingly,  we  rose  up  and 
walked  to  an  open  place  where  we  could  see  the  stars,  and  soon 
determined  our  course,  which  was  to  be  slightly  south  of  west, 
and  at  once  we  set  out  as  fast  as  we  could  travel.  We  spoke  no 
words  as  we  walked  on,  and  went  as  noiselessly  as  possible,  for 
we  were  on  the  look-out  for  scouting  parties  of  cavalrymen  that 
might  be  prowling  about. 

"  We  soon  came  to  the  railroad  track  leading  from  Atlanta  to 
Columbus,  and  knew  from  this  that  our  course  was  about  right. 
Our  march  led  us  through  some  rough  country,  and  we  were 
compelled  to  rest  quite  frequently,  so  that  when  it  began  to.  grow 
light  in  the  east  we  estimated  that  we  were  about  eight  miles 
from  the  prison.  We  sought  out  a  secluded  retreat  for  the  day. 
and  after  getting  each  of  us  a  stout  stick,  which  would  answer 
either  as  a  weapon  or  a  walking-stick,  we  lay  down  and  slept 
until  late  in  the  afternoon.  We  woke  up  much  rested,  but  were 
so  lame  and  our  feet  were  so  sore  that  we  could  hardly  take  a 
step  without  excruciating  pain.  We  were  hungry,  and  the 
scanty  morsel  of  corn-bread  we  had  brought  from  the  prison  th« 

24 


278  CAPTURING   A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

previous  evening  did  not  go  far  towards  satisfying  our  sharp  ap- 
petites. But  it  was  all  we  had,  and  we  ate  it  and  were  thankful, 
although  we  did  not  know  where  or  when  we  would  get  our 
next  rations. 

"  I  now  saw  a  difficulty  in  this  attempt  to  get  away  that  we 
did  not  encounter  in  our  first  attempt  to  reach  the  Federal  lines. 
Our  clothes  had  become  dirty  and  ragged,  and  we  had  a  sort  of 
jail-bird  look,  that  it  seemed  to  me  would  betray  us  if  we  were 
seen.  I  was  brought  to  a  realization  of  this  fact  as  I  looked  at 
Wood,  when  we  sat  together  in  silence  beneath  the  great  tree 
where  we  had  taken  shelter,  waiting  for  the  friendly  mantle  of 
darkness  to  shield  our  movements.  And  I  suppose  my  own  ap- 
pearance was  no  more  prepossessing  than  his.  The  miserable 
garments  he  wore  did  not  cover  his  nakedness.  His  face  was  be- 
grimed with  dirt  almost  set  in  the  skin.  He  had  become  thin  and 
emaciated  with  fever,  and  had  a  ravenous  appetite ;  his  eyes  were 
sunken  in  his  head  and  seemed  to  have  the  wild,  unnatural  glare 
of  a  madman,  which  at  times  almost  made  me  shudder.  The 
poor  fellow's  pitiable  appearance,  as  he  sat  there  despondently  and 
longingly  gazing  down  on  the  beautiful  valley  below,  was  such 
as  to  appeal  to  a  heart  of  stone.  Yet  I  knew  that  it  was  unsafe 
for  us  to  go  to  a  house,  and  we  agreed  not  to  be  seen  by  a  human 
being  if  we  could  avoid  it.  I  felt  certain  that  if  we  should  meet 
any  one,  our  appearance  would  at  once  betray  us.  We  were  in 
a  country  where  we  could  not  expect  to  find  a  friend,  unless, 
possibly,  it  might  be  the  negroes,  of  whom,  as  a  class,  we  knew 
but  very  little.  We  were  so  weak,  and  the  mental  strain  and 
long-continued  anxiety,  in  which  we  had  lived  from  day  to  day, 
had  had  the  effect  of  making  us,  I  may  say,  foolishly  suspicious 
and  timid  of  everything.  We  were  startled  at  every  sudden 
noise,  and  crouched  like  sneaking  wolves  from  the  sight  of  man. 

"  While  in  the  midst  of  unpleasant  thoughts,  Mark  broke  the 
long  silence  by  raising  his  head  and  saying,  « Alf,  it  is  time  for 
us  to  go.' 

"  Our  journey  that  night  took  us  through  a  corn-field,  where 
we  pulled  a  few  ears  of  corn  and  chewed  it  as  we  went  along.  I 
remember  it  was  hard  and  made  my  jaws  very  tired,  but  it  helped 
to  quiet  my  gnawing  hunger.  It  was  much  better  than  nothing. 
After  a  toilsome  night's  journey,  guided  by  the  stars,  and  over  a 
very  rough  country,  in  which  we  entirely  avoided  roads,  we  again 
secreted  ourselves  as  the  streaks  of  gray  began  to  appear  in  the 
east,  and,  after  scraping  up  a  pile  of  leaves,  lay  down  for  the  day. 
When  we  awoke,  late  in  the  afternoon,  we  found  that  our  feet 
were  so  bruised  and  sore,  and  that  we  were  otherwise  so  lame, 
and  withal  so  weak  from  hunger,  that  it  taxed  our  endurance  to 
the  utmost  to  take  a  single  step.  We  each  took  from  our  pockets 
an  ear  of  corn,  and  after  crunching  and  swallowing  what  we 
could,  we  put  the  rest  in  our  clothes  and  hobbled  off,  making  but 
rery  slow  time  for  the  first  mile  or  so.  It  was  in  the  month  of 
October,  and  the  nights  were  pretty  cool,  which,  in  our  poorW- 


FROM   ATLANTA    TO    THE   GULF.  279 

clad  condition,  compelled  us  to  keep  moving  all  the  time  to  keep 
comfortably  warm. 

"The  next  morning  came  and  still  we  had  not  reached  the 
river.  Again  we  hid  ourselves  and  slej  t  through  the  day.  When 
night  came  and  we  tried  to  walk,  we  found  our  feet  in  such  a 
deplorable  condition  that  it  did  not  seem  possible  for  us  to  go 
farther.  Mark  crawled  some  distance  on  his  hands  and  knees, 
and,  looking  back  at  me,  said  in  an  appealing  tone,  '  Alf,  what's  a 
fellow's  life  but  a  curse  to  him  when  he  has  to  drag  it  out  in  this 
way  ?  I  would  rather  be  dead  and  done  with  it.' 

"  I  encouraged  him,  telling  him  the  worst  was  over  and  we 
would  soon  reach  the  river.  I  suppose  we  had  shaped  our  course 
a  little  too  far  south,  and  thus  made  the  distance  longer  than  it 
would  otherwise  have  been.  We  struggled  on  for  some  time, 
crawling  where  the  ground  was  stony,  and  stopping  very  often  to 
temporarily  quell  the  pain  in  our  feet.  I  was  a  little  ahead,  and, 
LS  the  breeze  fanned  my  aching  temples,  I  thought  I  heard  to 
our  right  the  lull  of  running  water.  I  told  Mark  and  cheered 
him  up.  We  forgot  our  tortures  for  the  time  being  and  scrambled 
on  quite  lively,  and  soon  after  had  the  satisfaction  of  standing  on 
the  banks  of  the  Chattahoochee. 

"  De  Soto  did  not  feel  more  joy  when  he  first  discovered  the 
Mississippi,  the  great  Father  of  Waters,  nor  was  the  ecstasy  of 
Balboa  greater,  when,  from  the  cloud-capped  summits  of  Darien, 
his  eyes  first  beheld  the  vast  expanse  of  water  which  he  named  the 
Pacific  Ocean.  Like  that  great  discoverer,  we  waded  out  into 
the  water,  carrying  neither  naked  sword  nor  the  banner  of  our 
country  like  he,  to  take  possession  of  our  discovery  in  the  name 
of  our  rulers,  but  to  bathe  our  painful  feet  and  cool  our  parched 
throats. 

"  We  made  certain  of  the  direction  the  river  current  ran,  and 
started  southward  in  high  hopes,  although  the  temptation  to  go 
northward  to  our  friends  was  very  strong.  We  now  wanted  a 
boat,  and,  not  long  after  we  started,  fortune  had  another  pleasant 
lurprise  in  store  for  us,  for  we  came  upon  a  skiff  safely  moored, 
with  look  and  chain,  to  a  tree.  After  carefully  inspecting  the 
surroundings  to  see  that  no  prying  eyes  were  peering  on  us,  we 
'  loosened'  the  lock  with  a  stone,  and  in  a  few  minutes  after  were 
smoothly  gliding  down  the  current  of  the  great  river,  and  I  doubt 
if  two  more  joyful  mortals  ever  navigated  a  canoe  than  we  two, 
with  that  stolen  little  craft. 

"What  a  happy  change!  Our  weary  limbs  and  painful  feet 
now  had  a  rest,  and  yet  we  were  gliding  noiselessly  on  our  jour- 
ney. What  wonderful  teachers  hardship  and  stern  necessity  are  I 
Discuntsnted  mortals  do  not  half  appreciate  the  blessings  they 
have  until  they  have  been  pupils  in  the  school  of  adversity.  I 
felt  as  if  this  chilly  night's  ride,  in  a  little  stolen  boat,  on  a  strange 
river,  whose  shores  were  hidden  by  Plutonian  shadows,  was  the 
best  and  most  grateful  that  I  ever  had,  or  ever  expected  to  enjoy. 

"  We  pulled  off  our  old  boots  and  bathed  cur  lacerated  feet  in 


280  CAPTURING  A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

the  water,  and  quenched  the  tormenting  thirst  caused  by  the  in- 
digestible hard  corn,  which  was  now  our  only  nourishment.  We 
kept  our  paddles  pretty  busy,  as  we  wished  to  get  as  far  away  as 
possible  from  where  we  took  the  boat  before  the  dawn  of  day. 
When  daylight  began  to  appear,  we  paddled  our  craft  into  a 
bayou,  safe  from  view,  and  secreted  ourselves  in  a  thicket  for  th« 
day. 

"  Four  days  and  nights  had  now  passed  since  we  had  eaten 
food,  except  the  morsel  of  corn-bread  we  brought  out  of  the 
prison  We  lay  down  to  sleep  the  day  away,  but  between  our 
great  hunger  and  the  swarms  of  mosquitoes  we  could  get  but 
little  rest.  I  could,  while  sleeping,  see  in  my  dreams  tables 
spread  and  groaning  with  loads  of  good  things  to  eat;  bread, 
moat,  cheese,  coffee,  biscuit,  and  butter  were  all  within  my  reach, 
and  were  vanishing  before  my  ravenous  appetite,  when,  in  the 
midst  of  the  great  pleasures  of  this  feast,  I  would  suddenly 
waken  to  a  sense  of  the  reality  of  the  case,  and  what  a  madden- 
ing disappointment  I  would  feel.  With  this  disturbed  sort  of 
rest  we  worried  through  the  day,  the  demands  of  hunger  and  our 
stomachs  getting  the  better  of  nature's  demand  for  rest,  until  at. 
last  we  grew  desperate,  and  at  early  twilight,  in  the  evening, 
pulled  out  of  the  little  bayou,  determined  on  a  raid  of  some  sort 
on  a  house  for  food. 

"  We  spied  a  house  some  distance  from  the  river-bank,  which 
we  thought  from  appearances  we  could  capture  with  a  plausible 
story  or  by  force. 

"  On  approaching,  we  saw  in  its  immediate  vicinity  quite  a 
number  of  negro  cabins,  and  in  the  yard  surrounding  the  house 
about  twenty  blood-hounds  chained  to  the  fence,  indicating  that 
these  were  the  premises  of  an  extensive  planter.  The  only  occu- 
pants of  the  house  were  an  old  man  and  woman.  We  apologized 
for  disturbing  them,  and  told  them  we  were  soldiers  who  had  been 
on  furlough  returning  to  our  regiments  at  Atlanta,  and  wished 
directions  to  the  ferry  (we  had  discovered  a  ferry  as  we  cams 
down)  ;  also,  that  we  were  hungry  and  wanted  to  get  something 
to  eat,  provided  they  felt  like  feeding  hungry  soldiers  without 
money,  as  we  had  had  no  pay  for  some  time,  and  were  both  money- 
less and  in  bad  health,  Mark's  appearance  proving  this  latter 
assertion.  It  was  quite  dark,  however,  and  they  could  not  sea 
us  very  distinctly,  but  they  evidently  credited  our  story,  for  they 
told  us  to  be  seated  and  we  would  soon  be  made  welcome  to  such 
food  as  they  had. 

"  They  were  a  couple  of  quite  intelligent  but  unsophisticated 
old  people,  in  comfortable  circumstances,  living,  as  most  South- 
erners did,  away  from  any  highway,  and  we  gained  their  confi- 
dence so  far  as  to  feel  ourselves  assured  from  suspicion.  I  had 
been  in  Dixie  so  long  that  I  had  acquired,  from  the  guards  and 
citizens,  their  vernacular  of  speech  quite  perfectly  ;  besides  this, 
we  had  learned  the  names  of  officers  and  the  number  of  different 
regiments,  such  as  the  Eighth  Georgia  Cavalry,  Fifth  Tennesse* 


FROM  ATLANTA    TO   THE   GULF  281 

Infantry,  etc.,  until  we  were  able  to  tell  quite  a  plausible  story 
if  not  too  closely  questioned. 

"  We  asked  the  old  man  if  there  was  any  late  news.  He  said, 
1  Nothing,  except  that  the  Yankee  raiders  had  seized  the  Atlanta 
jailer,  overpowered  the  guards,  and  a  number  of  them  escaped 
and  had  not  yet  been  caught.'  We  expressed  great  surprise  that 
such  a  piece  of  audacity  could  be  made  successful  in  Atlanta 
The  old  man  said,  '  They  were  a  desperate,  dangerous  lot  of 
scoundrels,  who  ought  to  have  been  hung  long  ago. '  He  said 
many  of  them  stood  up  and  fought  the  soldiers  with  clubs  and 
bricks,  even  after  the  guards  had  shot  them  through,  and  finally 
they  jumped  the  high  fence  und  ran  like  deer. 

"  In  the  mean  time  we  had  devoured  everything  the  good 
woman  had  set  before  us  on  the  table.  We  were  ashamed,  but 
our  hunger  was  so  much  stronger  than  our  sense  of  shame  that 
we  could  not  leave  off,  and,  if  we  had  not  been  in  a  hurry,  we 
would  have  waited  for  her  to  have  prepared  another  meal  for  us. 
She  said  she  regretted  that  she  had  not  more  cookod  to  set  before 
us,  but  we  told  her  she  had  been  very  kind,  and  thanked  them, 
at  the  same  time  bidding  them  good-night,  when  we  started  off, 
as  they  supposed,  for  the  ferry.  A  short  time  afterwards  we  were 
in  our  boat  pulling  down-stream  with  more  vigorous  energy  than 
we  had  before.  We  kept  up  a  steady  stroke  of  the  paddles  for 
some  hours,  feeling  that  each  stroke  placed  so  much  more  dis- 
tance between  us  and  the  prison. 

"  While  we  were  thus  moving  along  with  steady,  cautious 
stroke,  high  in  the  hopes  of  the  future,  I  suddenly,  quicker  than 
a  flash,  found  myself  lying  flat  on  my  back  in  the  river.  What 
on  earth  had  happened  I  did  not  know,  the  accident  had  been  so 
sudden.  I  thought  of  earthquakes,  whales,  sharks,  torpedoes, 
and  many  other  things.  Luckily,  one  of  my  feet  caught  on  the 
side  of  the  boat,  and  I  drifted  with  it  until  Mark  came  to  my  as- 
sistance and  pulled  me  out.  The  cause  of  my  mishap  had  been  a 
ferry-boat  wire,  which  was  stretched  across  the  river,  and  hung 
just  low  enough  to  catch  me  fairly  as  I  sat  in  the  stern  of  the  boat. 
It  struck  Mark,  but  he  sat  in  the  middle,  and  fell  into  the  bottom 
of  the  boat.  We  were  going  at  a  good  speed,  and  the  collision 
came  so  suddenly  that  it  is  a  wonder  we  did  not  fare  worse.  For- 
tunately, there  were  no  guards  at  the  ferry,  so  we  had  no  cause 
to  apprehend  discovery  or  molestation.  My  greatest  mishap  was 
a  thorough  wetting,  for  the  night  was  frosty  and  cold,  and  caused 
me  to  chill. 

"  This  was  followed  in  the  after  part  of  the  night  by  a  stupor 
that  I  could  not  shake  off,  and  my  continued  efforts  at  the  pad- 
dle had  wellnigh  exhausted  me.  Mark  could  not  manage  the 
boat  very  well,  as  he  had  tried  it  a  number  of  times.  Hut  I  felt 
that  I  must  have  rest  and  sleep,  and  so  gave  the  boat  over  into 
his  hands,  enjoining  him  to  keep  it  in  the  current.  I  lay  down 
in  the  bottom  of  the  boat,  and  soon  sank  into  a  state  of  furgetfu' 
ness  and  sleep.  I  do  not  know  how  long  I  had  slept,  but  som* 

24* 


282  CAPTURING  A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

time  ;r  vto  night  Mark  aroused  me,  and  told  me  we  could  go  n« 
fartho.1,  is  we  had  come  '  to  the  end  of  the  river.'  It  was  some 
time  betbre  he  could  awaken  me  fully  to  consciousness,  so  that  I 
could  comp  -ehend  our  situation. 

"At  last  t  began  to  look  around,  to  determine  what  Mark's 
'  end  of  the  ,-iver'  meant.  I  soon  discovered  that  he  had  run  the 
boat  away  u  ider  a  ledge  of  the  mountain,  and  a  dim  light  could 
only  be  seen  in  one  direction.  All  else  around  us  was  impene- 
trable darknoss.  I  took  the  paddle,  and  worked  the  boat  in  the 
direction  of  the  light,  and  in  a  little  while  we  emerged  from  be- 
neath this  overhanging  mountain  ledge,  and  again  reached  the  cur- 
rent of  the  river,  down  which  the  boat  was  soon  rapidly  gliding. 
Mark  now  discovered  that  the  '  end  of  the  river'  had  not  yet  been 
reached,  but  he  did  not  care  to  take  charge  of  the  boat  again. 

"Shortly  after  this  adventure  we  perceived  that  we  were  not 
to  have  smooth  sailing  all  the  way.  The  river  began  to  grow 
rough,  and  the  water  ran  over  benches  and  ledges  of  rocks,  and, 
in  places,  with  great  velocity,  so  much  so  that  we  narrowly  es- 
caped being  '  broken  up'  on  several  occasions  during  this  night's 
journey.  We  passed  over  a  number  of  places  that  we  would  not 
have  dared  to  risk  in  daylight,  when  we  could  have  seen  the  dan- 
ger. It  seemed  to  grow  worse  and  worse  as  we  went  on,  when 
daylight  warned  us  that  it  was  time  to  tie  up  and  hide,  which  we 
did,  and,  the  day  being  warm  and  pleasant,  we  had  a  comfortable 
rest, — the  best  since  our  escape. 

"  On  the  following  night  we  came  to  a  mill-dam,  where  the 
water,  judging  from  the  noise,  poured  over  in  great  volume  and 
force.  We  manosuvred  around  for  some  time  above  it,  not 
knowing  what  to  do,  but  finally  discovered  what  appeared  to  be 
an  apron  near  the  centre  of  the  dam,  and  decided  to  risk  run- 
ning it.  Accordingly,  we  rowed  up-stream  some  distance  to  get 
under  good  headway,  then  turning  the  head  of  the  boat  down- 
stream, we  bent  to  our  paddles  with  all  our  might.  We  came 
down  with  the  velocity  of  an  express-train.  What  we  supposed 
might  have  been  an  apron,  was  nothing  but  a  break  in  the  dam, 
and  over  it  we  shot  like  an  arrow,  shutting  our  eyes  and  holding 
our  bseath.  In  an  instant  after,  we  landed  (luckily  right  side 
up)  away  below  in  the  midst  of  the  angry,  foaming  torrent,  and 
plying  our  paddles  right  vigorously,  and  keeping  the  bow  of  our 
boat  down-stream,  we  rode  out  safely,  but  then  and  there  '  swore 
off'  on  running  mill-dams  in  the  night. 

"  We  continued  our  journey,  though  the  river  was  still  rough 
and  growing  worse.  We  were  constantly  among  rocks  and 
foaming,  headlong  torrents  of  water,  while  steep  rocky  walls 
confined  the  stream  to  very  narrow  limits,  and  dark,  shadowy 
mountain  peaks  loomed  up  in  the  background,  reminding  us  of 
the  Tennessee  about  Chattanooga.  We  went  on  from  bad  to 
worse,  until  at  last,  during  the  latter  part  of  the  night,  we  were 
incautiously  drawn  into  a  gorge,  where  it  seemed  that  the  d»- 
itruction  of  our  boat  was  inevitable.  Such  was  the  force  »nd 


FROM   ATLANTA    TO    THE   GULF.  283 

velocity  of  the  water,  that  \Vc  lost  all  control  of  theftoat,  and  in 
one  instant  would  be  spinning  around  in  a  furious  eddy  until 
our  heads  were  fairly  dizzy,  and  in  the  next  we  would  be  dashed 
against  the  rocks  until  it  seemed  as  if  our  boat  would  be  splin- 
tered to  pieces.  We  regarded  our  escape  here  as  the  narrowest 
we  had  made,  and  as  quick  as  we  could  do  so  with  safety  we 
landed  on  the  rocks  and,  with  many  regrets,  abandoned  our  little 
craft  to  begin  a  tedious,  toilsome  land  journey  of  three  days  arid 
nights  over  rocky  hills,  bluffs,  and  mountains  along  the  river. 

"Just  as  we  landed  from  the  boat  Mark  started  to  walk  out, 
and,  losing  his  balance,  fell  headlong  into  the  river.  With  con- 
siderable difficulty  I  fished  him  out,  and,  the  early  morning 
being  quite  cool,  the  poor  fellow  was  chilled  through  and 
through,  and  it  was  with  the  greatest  difliculty  that  I  finally 
succeeded  in  getting  him  up  into  the  mountains,  and  continued 
to  exercise  him  by  walking,  so  as  to  get  up  a  good  circulation  of 
his  blood.  But  he  became  so  benumbed  that  I  finally  let  him 
lie  down,  and  gathered  a  lot  of  cedar  boughs  and  piled  them 
thickly  over  him,  and  then  crawled  in  with  him  myself,  and 
kept  him  as  warm  as  possible.  Here  we  slept  and  rested  until 
late  in  the  afternoon  of  that  day,  which  became  very  warm 
under  the  bright  rays  of  the  sun. 

"  Our  progress  was  very  slow,  and  towards  the  last  extremely 
painful.  The  old  bruises  and  blisters  on  our  feet,  which  were 
not  entirely  healed,  came  back  worse  than  ever,  and  much  of  the 
time  we  crept  along  on  the  rocks  on  our  hands  and  knees,  be-' 
lieving  that  if  once  we  could  get  below  this  range  of  mountains^ 
we  would  find  navigable  waters.  We  came  in  sight  of  several 
isolated  cabins  in  these  wild,  rocky  hills,  where  we  managed  to 
beg  a  little  food  on  two  different  occasions,  which  helped  us  very 
much.  The  suffering  we  endured  on  our  last  night's  travel  I 
cannot  describe.  It  seemed  as  if  we  must  give  up  and  die  where 
we  were.  But  at  last,  when  daylight  came,  to  our  great  delight 
we  saw  the  spires  and  smoke-stacks  of  a  town  in  the  distance. 
We  knew  this  to  be  Columbus,  Georgia,  and  that  when  we  got 
below  it  the  river  was  navigable  clear  to  the  Gulf. 

"  We  now  deemed  it  prudent  to  hide  ourselves  for  the  day, 
which  we  had  not  done  in  the  mountains,  and  wait  for  the 
friendly  cloak  of  darkness.  When  night  came  we  made  a  long, 
careful  detour  away  out  around  the  suburbs  of  the  town,  and  at 
last  had  the  satisfaction  of  again  reaching  the  river-bank,  below 
the  town,  where  we  found  good  shelter  among  the  dense  grape- 
vines and  drift-wood.  By  this  time  it  was  nearly  morning  again, 
and,  like  beasts  of  prey,  we  betook  ourselves  to  a  safe  hiding- 
place. 

"  During  all  the  time  we  had  been  in  the  vicinity  of  the  town 
we  had  heard  a  constant  clattering  sound,  as  of  a  hundred  work- 
men with  hammers.  This  noise  came  from  near  the  river,  where 
there  appeared  alsc  to  be  a  great  light.  When  daylight  came 
v.h«  noire  still  continued,  and  we  wer«  near  enough  BO  that  wt 


284  CAPTURING  A  LOCOMOTIVE 

could  see  that  it  was  caused  by  a  large  number  of  workmei  Bn- 
staged  on  a  vessel,  which  they  were  covering  with  iron,  x'ba 
boat  appeared  to  be  very  large  and  of  great  strength,  and  evi- 
dently was  intended  for  a  warlike  purpose.  On  closer  inspection 
the  following  night  I  found  that  she  was  a  powerfully-built, 
gunboat,  which  they  were  evidently  in  great  haste  to  complete, 
as  the  hammers  of  the  workmen  never  ceased  on  her,  night  or 
day,  nor  for  a  single  moment. 

"  This  gunboat  was  none  other  than  the  rebel  ram  '  Chattahoo- 
cliee,'  a  formidable  iron  monster,  built  as  an  engine  of  destruc- 
tion for  the  blockading  fleet  in  Appalachicola  Bay.  The  first 
knowledge  the  Navy  Department  had  of  her  was  through  Wood 
and  myself.  The  ram,  on  her  first  downward  trip,  blew  up  near 
the  mouth  of  "Flint  River,  and  never  reached  the  Gulf. 

"  Our  great  anxiety  now  was  to  secure  a  boat.  Wood  was  so 
lame  he  could  not  walk,  and  I  was  not  much  better.  This  de- 
layed us  here  two  days  and  nights.  During  the  nights  I  was 
prowling  about,  up  and  down,  trying  to  discover  some  sort  of  a 
craft  that  would  float.  In  my  reconnoitring  about  the  gunboat 
I  had  discovered  an  old  skiff"  chained  to  a  stump  quite  near  and 
in  plain  sight  of  the  workmen,  to  some  of  whom,  no  doubt,  it 
belonged.  I  secured  a  stout  stick  for  a  lever,  and  crept  to  the 
stump  to  which  the  boat  was  chained,  when,  watching  my  op- 
portunity, I  got  a  pry  in  such  a  manner  as  to  break  the  lock  on 
the  chain.  The  lights  shone  so  brightly  that  I  could  plainly  see 
the  men's  eyes,  and  I  very  much  feared  they  would  notice  me. 
However,  I  worked  off  with  the  boat  carefully,  and  half  an  hour 
after  I  had  Mark  aboard,  and  we  were  pulling  rapidly  down- 
stream. We  found  our  prize  to  be  a  leaky  old  concern,  and  one 
of  us  was  constantly  busy  keeping  her  bailed  out. 

11  After  we  had  drifted  down  son:  e  miles,  we  spied  three  boats  tied 
to  the  shore  on  the  Alabama  side  cf  the  river,  and  as  we  had  been 
giving  our  attention  entirely  to  the  Georgians  all  along,  we  con- 
cluded to  trade  boats  on  that  side  of  the  river,  provided  we  could 
secure  a  better  boat.  Just  as  we  had  loosened  the  one  we  selected, 
three  men  with  a  pack  of  dogs  came  down  the  hill  towards  us, 
and  the  head  man,  evidently  the  owner,  began  hallooing  to  us 
and  calling  us  slanderous  names,  such  as  thieves  and  the  like. 
We  did  not  stop  to  bandy  words  with  the  fellows,  but  speedily 
shoved  all  the  boats  into  the  river,  and  took  a  course  up  the 
river,  as  though  we  were  going  towards  Columbus.  Thej  rent 
the  air  with  curses  upon  our  heads.  In  the  course  of  fifteen  or 
twenty  minutes  they  had  secured  the  boats  we  shoved  into  the 
stream,  and*  with  the  lights  they  carried  we  could  distinctly  see 
that  they  were  bent  on  pursuing  us.  We  took  a  wide  circuit, 
and  then  headed  downward  under  cover  of  the  willows,  behind 
several  small  islands  near  the  Georgia  shore,  and  came  out  in  th« 
main  stream  far  below  the  islands,  while  we  had  the  satisfaction 
of  seeing  the  lights  of  our  pursuers  disappearing  up  the  river 
and  rrowling  about  the  upper  end  of  the  islands,  which  we  wer« 


FROM  ATLANTA    TO   THE   GULF.  286 

aow  leaving  far  behind.  We  soon  lost  sight  of  them,  and  the 
strong  presumption  is  that  they  never  succeeded  in  finding  their 
boat. 

"  We  increased  our  speed,  and  kept  under  the  shadows  of  the 
wooded  shores  as  much  as  possible,  congratulating  each  other  on 
our  lucky  boat  trade.  With  a  good  boat  and  an  open  river  we 
felt  now  that  our  chances  of  escape  were  exceedingly  good,  and 
3ur  spirits  were  buoyant  and  hopes  high,  although  our  stomachs 
were  craving  food.  But  on  we  swept,  hour  after  hour,  down  the 
broad  river,  happy  in  the  thought  that  we  were  fast  placing 
Bcores  of  miles  between  us  and  the  hated  prison.  The  rest  given 
our  feet  had  much  allayed  the  pain  we  suffered,  and  when  morn- 
Ing  came  and  we  had  secreted  ourselves  for  the  day,  we  slept  well, 
but,  awoke  in  the  afternoon  ravenously  desperate  for  want  of 
something  to  eat. 

"  We  went  out,  and,  reconnoitring  a  little,  discovered  a  corn- 
field. Making  sure  that  there  was  no  one  about,  we  stole  into 
the  field  and  found  plenty  of  corn  and  pumpkins.  The  hard 
corn  and  river  water  did  not  go  well  together,  and  proved  to  be 
an  unpleasant  diet  to  us,  so  we  broke  up  the  pumpkins,  ate  freely 
of  the  seed,  and  filled  our  pockets  with  more  for  lunch,  each  of 
us  taking  also  a  few  ears  of  corn.  By  the  time  we  got  back  it 
was  nearly  dark,  and  we  pulled  out.  The  pumpkin-seed  diet, 
poor  as  it  was,  helped  us  wonderfully,  and  we  made  a  big  night's 
journey,  passing  a  steamboat  upward  bound,  which  we  dodged 
by  pulling  under  the  shadows  of  the  timber  and  low-hanging 
bushes. 

"  Thus  we  progressed,  travelling  by  boat  at  night  and  laying 
by  in  the  daytime.  If  any  reader  of  this  story  has  ever  made  a 
trip  on  the  lower  end  of  the  Chattahoochee  River,  I  think  he 
or  she  will  agree  with  me  when  I  say  that  the  river  scenery  is 
peculiarly  monotonous  and  causes  a  sense  of  loneliness.  It  is  a 
vast  water-path  through  dense  forests  of  cypress  and  other 
swamp-growing  timber.  On  either  side,  to  the  right  and  left,  were 
endless  swamps  covered  with  water,  and  the  river-channel  was 
only  observable  by  its  being  free  from  logs  and  gigantic  trees. 
Great  festoons  of  gray  and  sombre  moss  hung  suspended  from 
even  the  topmost  limbs  of  these  trees,  reaching  clear  down  to  the 
water,  and  floated  and  swung  to  the  music  of  the  sighing  winds. 
Perhaps  it  was  the  circumstances  in  our  case  that  made  us  feel 
•o,  but  I  remember  it  as  a  dismal,  lonesome  journey.  Sometimes 
we  would  not  see  a  sign  of  civilization  for  forty-eight  hours  at  a 
•tretch. 

"  Besides  the  torments  of  hunger,  our  nights  were  made  almost 
unendurable  by  the  swarms  of  blood-thirsty  mosquitoes,  which 
came  upon  us  in  clouds.  I  did  think  that  I  had  learned  consider- 
able about  mosquitoes  in  my  boyhood  days  in  the  Black  Swamp  of 
Northwestern  Ohio,  but  for  numbers,  vocal  powers,  and  ferocity 
I  will  '  trot'  the  Chattahoochee  swamp  fellows  out  against  any 
others  I  have  ever  '  met  up  with.'  The  ragged  clothing,  which 


286  CAPTURING  A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

yet  clung  to  our  backs,  did  not  much  more  than  half  cover  us  \ 
especially  was  this  the  case  with  Wood,  who  was,  I  may  truth- 
fully say,  half  naked,  and  was  thus  doubly  annoyed  by  the  omni- 
present 'skeeters.'  And  my  own  condition  was  but  little  better. 
To  protect  ourselves  from  the  pests,  we  thatched  our  bodies  all 
»ver  with  great  skeins  of  moss,  and  two  more  comical-looking 
Beings  than  we  were,  thus  rigged  out,  it  would  be  hard  to  1ml 
but  it  baffled  the  bills  of  our  tormentors. 

"We  had  two  other  annoyances, — moccasin-snakes  and  alli- 
gators. The  latter,  with  which  the  water  swarmed  as  we  went 
farther  towards  the  Gulf,  were  a  terror  to  me.  They  were  a 
ferocious,  hungry,  dangerous-looking  beast  at  best.  We  knew 
but  little  of  their  habits.  The  largest  water  inhabitant  I  had 
ever  seen  was  a  Maumee  lliver  cat-fish,  and  the  most  dangerous, 
a  Black  Swamp  massasauger.  Night  or  day  these  '  gators,"  as 
the  Southern  negroes  call  them,  like  the  mosquitoes,  were  always 
within  sight  and  hearing.  Sometimes  during  the  day,  in  order 
to  keep  out  of  the  water,  we  would  take  shelter  in  a  pile  of  drift- 
wood. When  we  would  wake  up,  after  a  short  nap,  every  old 
log  and  hommock  about  us  would  be  covered  with  'gators.' 
They  would  lie  listlessly  and  lazily,  with  eyes  almost  shut,  look- 
ing hungrily  and  quiz/.ically  out  of  one  corner  of  their  wicked 
peepers,  as  if  waiting  for  us  to  leave,  or  for  a  chance  to  nab  one 
of  us  by  the  leg  or  arm  and  run.  Mark  grew  superstitious  of 
these  creatures.  He  said  he  had  read  of  wolves  following  a  fam- 
ished buffalo  in  the  same  manner,  and  that  sharks  would  hover 
around  a  ship  from  which  a  corpse  was  to  be  cast  overboard,  and 
that,  too,  even  days  before  death  had  occurred  or  was  even  sus- 
pected by  the  sailors.  But  the  '  gators'  were  cowardly  fellows, 
and,  on  the  least  demonstration  on  our  part,  would  scramble 
into  the  water.  Still  we  feared  that  they  might  steal  upon  and 
Jay  hold  of  us  with  their  powerful  jaws  while  we  were  asleep. 
We  had  learned  that  they  were  not  apt  to  attack,  except  when 
the  object  of  their  voracious  appetites  lay  quiet ;  but,  when  once 
they  did  lay  hold,  that  they  were  hard  to  beat  off.  They  will 
drag  their  victim,  be  it  man  or  beast,  instantly  under  the  water, 
where  the  struggle  soon  ends. 

"  After  enduring  hunger  as  long  as  we  possibly  could,  we  were 
finally  forced  a  second  time  since  leaving  Columbus  to  go  in 
search  of  something  to  eat.  This,  I  think,  was  about  five  or  ten 
miles  above  Chattahoochee  landing.  It  is  not  necessary  to  relate 
the  particulars  of  our  search  for  a  human  habitation,  and  the 
story  of  deception  we  told.  It  was  a  little  before  dark  when  we 
struck  out  on  foot  so  weak,  hungry,  and  faint  that  we  could  not 
walk  many  steps  without  resting,  in  search  of  something  or  any- 
thing we  could  devour.  We  were  successful,  or  partially  so,  at 
least,  and  came  back  safely,  much  strengthened,  as  well  as  elated 
over  our  good  luck,  when,  to  our  great  dismay  and  chagrin,  we 
found  that  our  boat  had  been  stolen  during  our  absence. 

"  It  was  evident  some  one  had  seen  us  land  and  watched  until 


FROM  ATLANTA    TO    THE   GULF.  287 

we  left,  and  then  taken  the  boat.  I  can  not  describe  our  feelings. 
We  scarcely  knew  what  to  do.  The  night  was  very  dark,  and  it 
rained  incessantly.  We  waded  about  in  the  water,  tall  grass  and 
cane,  and  after  a  while  found  a  little  mound  or  hommock,  which 
projected  above  the  water,  and  on  which  we  perched  ourselves 
for  the  night.  Such  a  dismal,  long,  rainy  night  as  it  was,  too  I 
It  did  seem  as  if  the  mosquitoes  would  carry  us  away  piecemeal 
towards  morning,  when  the  rain  had  ceased.  Had  it  not  been 
for  the  food  we  had  eaten,  I  believe  we  would  have  given  up  in 
despair.  When  morning  came,  we  waded  up  and  down  in  the 
cane  and  grass  all  forenoon,  and  about  the  only  discovery  we  made 
was  that  another  river  came  in  just  below  us,  and  we  could  not 
go  farther  without  a  boat. 

"  During  the  afternoon  I  descried  something  on  the  far  side 
of  the  river  that  looked  like  a  boat  partly  sunk  in  the  water,  one 
end  only  of  which  was  out.  The  next  trouble  was  to  get  to  it, 
as  the  river  was  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  wide,  as  near  as 
we  could  judge.  We  found  an  old  piece  of  plank,  which  we 
lashed  on  three  flat  rails  with  a  grape-vine,  and  with  a  piece  of 
narrow  stave  for  a  paddle  and  to  fight  off  '  gators,'  I  twined  my 
legs  firmly  around  the  centre  of  the  frail  craft,  while  Mark  pushed 
it  off  into  the  stream  and  stood  at  the  edge  of  the  grass  watching 
me.  The  raft  sunk  down  until  the  water  came  about  my  waist, 
but  I  stuck  to  it,  and  after  about  an  hour's  hard  work  I  effected 
a  landing  on  the  far  side,  and  not  long  after  found  myself  re- 
warded in  the  possession  of  a  much  better  boat  than  the  one  we 
had  lost  the  night  before.  I  was  not  long  in  bailing  out  the 
water  and  rowing  her  back  to  where  Mark  was,  whose  gratitude 
found  expression  in  tears  and  hearty  hand-shaking,  as  he  crept 
into  the  boat  with  me. 

"  We  now  plied  our  paddles  energetically  for  a  while,  until  we 
felt  sure  we  had  passed  out  of  reach  of  the  owners  of  the  boat, 
when  we  put  into  the  cane  and  secreted  ourselves  until  night. 
After  this  mishap  in  losing  our  boat,  we  resolved  that  we  would 
not  both  leave  again  while  our  journey  lasted,  starve  or  no  starve. 
During  the  following  day,  while  we  were  laid  up  waiting  for 
night  and  fighting  mosquitoes,  I  went  out,  skulking  about  to  see 
what  I  could  see,  and  in  passing  through  an  old  field  found  some 
fish-hooks  and  lines  in  an  old  vacant  cabin.  I  appropriated  them, 
and  we  found  them  a  godsend  to  us,  for  they  proved  the  means 
of  keeping  us  from  actual  starvation. 

"  We  must  have  had  a  touch  of  scurvy,  for  our  mouths  and 
gums  had  become  feverish,  and  our  teeth  were  loose,  and  would 
Bleed  constantly  when  we  attempted  to  chew  the  corn.  This  was 
the  condition  we  were  in  when,  providentially,  we  became  pos- 
sessed of  the  fish-hooks  and  lines. 

"And  now  for  a  feast  on  raw  cat-fish,  of  which  we  caught  a 
plentiful  supply  as  we  journeyed  on  in  the  night.  I  have  pre- 
viously neglected  to  mention  that  I  had  with  me  an  old  one- 
bladed  knife  without  any  back,  which  was  our  only  weapon,  d»- 


288  CAPTURING   A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

fensive  or  offensive.  This  old  knife  I  had  secreted  when  we  were 
in  the  Atlanta  prison,  and  had  kept  it  with  me  as  a  precious  treas- 
ure during  all  our  wanderings.  With  this  knife  and  our  fingers 
we  managed  to  skin  and  dress  the  fish,  which  we  ate  raw  with 
our  soaked  corn.  Matches  we  had  none,  nor  had  we  been  able 
to  get  any,  and  so  we  had  no  fire.  I  could  eat  only  a  mouthful 
or  two  of  the  raw  fish  at  a  time.  My  stomach  was  weak  and 
feverish,  and  rebelled  against  the  flesh.  Still  it  tasted  palatable. 

"  Mark,  poor,  hungry  fellow,  tore  it  from  the  bones  in  great 
mouthfuls,  like  a  ravenous  wolf,  until  I  would  beg  of  him  to  de- 
sist, fearing  the  results.  He  would  sit  and  crunch  the  bloody  flesh, 
and  look  at  me  with  a  wild,  strange  stare,  and  never  speak  a 
word.  Hia  eyes  were  sunken  away  in  his  head,  almost  out  of 
sight,  and  as  he  would  seize  a  fresh  piece  the  pupils  of  his  eyes 
would  dilate  with  the  gloating,  ferocious  expression  of  a  panther 
or  other  carnivorous  wild  beast.  I  had  frequently  heard  of  men 
losing  their  reason  and  going  mad  from  the  effects  of  protracted 
hunger,  and  I  sometimes  shuddered  as  I  looked  at  its  telling  ef- 
fects on  poor  Mark's  wasted  frame,  and  the  unnatural  glare  of 
his  eyes.  He  would  mutter  and  groan  in  his  sleep,  and  some- 
times scream  out  as  if  pierced  by  a  knife,  when  he  would  sud- 
denly start  up  and  call  my  name.  Towards  the  last  of  our  jour- 
ney his  condition  was  much  of  the  time  a  cause  of  great  anxiety 
to  *me.  Still,  after  we  began  to  eat  the  fish  he  seemed  much  bet- 
ter, and  I  only  feared  the  unnatural  quantities  of  the  raw  flesh 
would  kill  him. 

"  We  were  now  nearing  the  bay,  as  was  plain  to  be  seen,  for 
on  each  succeeding  morning  the  river  had  grown  wider.  Finally 
we  became  well  satisfied  that  we  were  nearing  a  large  town, 
which  afterwards  proved  to  be  Appalachicola.,  and  this  made  us 
anxious  to  learn  something  of  the  state  of  affairs  below, — whether 
there  were  rebel  picket-boats,  or  obstructions,  such  as  torpedo- 
boats  and  the  like. 

"  About  this  time  we  discovered  a  cabin  some  distance  from 
the  shore,  and,  to  have  a  plausible  excuse,  I  took  an  old  pipe 
Mark  had,  and  filled  it  with  a  few  crumbs  of  tobacco  which  I 
fished  from  my  old  coat-linings,  and  then  taking  a  piece  of  rotten 
wood  which  would  retain  fire,  I  left  Mark  with  the  boat  and 
walked  over  to  the  house  to  get  a  light  for  my  pipe.  The  occu- 
pants of  the  cabin  proved  to  be  an  old  Scotchman  and  his  wife. 
He  was  very  inquisitive,  and  asked  more  questions  than  I  cared 
to  answer.  -But  I  managed  to  evade  suspicion,  and  at  the  same 
time  gained  considerable  information.  I  learned  that  we  were 
about  five  miles  above  Appalachicola,  and  that  the  Federal  block- 
ading squadron  was  stationed  at  the  mouth  of  the  bay,  eighteen 
miles  below  the  city.  1  hurried  back  to  the  boat,  and  found 
Mark  rejoicing  ovei  a  little  armful  of  sweet  potatoes  he  had 
stolen  from  a  negro's  canoe,  which  he  had  discovered  in  my  ab- 
sence. 

"  We  got  into  the  boat  and  at  once  paddled  to  the  other  side 


FROM  ATLANTA    TO   THE   GULF.  289 

of  the  bay  or  river,  where  we  entered  into  an  inlet  or  creek,  up 
which  we  ran  for  some  distance,  when  we  came  to  a  dense  cane- 
brake.  Here  we  secreted  ourselves  and  built  a  little  fire,  roasted 
fish  and  potatoes,  parched  corn,  and  dined  in  right  royal  style, 
although  we  felt  the  need  of  a  little  salt.  Two  hungry  wolves 
never  ate  more  ravenously  than  we  did,  although  we  weue  obliged 
to  restrain  ourselves,  and  leave  off  while  yet  hungry.  It  was 
with  the  utmost  diificulty  that  I  absolutely  forced  Mark  to  quit. 
After  eating  enough  for  four  men,  as  I  thought,  he  still  begged 
for  more.  I  finally  induced  him  to  go  to  sleep,  and  stored  away 
some  of  the  cooked  fish  and  sweet  potatoes  for  the  next  day. 

"  The  information  we  had  gained  was  invaluable  to  us,  al- 
though I  felt  I  had  obtained  it  at  some  risk.  When  night  came 
on  we  pulled  out  and  passed  down  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
bay  from  the  city,  slowly  and  cautiously.  We  had  moss  in  the 
bottom,  on  the  sides,  and  in  the  seats  of  our  boat  for  our  comfort. 
As  soon  as  we  had  gone  well  past  the  city,  whose  bright  lights 
we  could  plainly  see,  we  crossed  the  bay  to  the  city  side  below 
the  city,  in  the  hope  of  finding  a  more  sea-worthy  boat.  We 
were  unable  to  find  any  other  boat,  however,  and  pulled  on  down 
the  bay  as  fust  as  we  could.  While  going  down  the  bay  that 
evening,  we  ran  along  in  the  midst  of  a  large  school  of  huge  fish 
of  some  description,  from  which  we  apprehended  danger  every 
'instant.  These  monsters  would  swim  along  on  all  sides  of  us, 
with  great  fins  sticking  more  than  a  foot  out  of  the  water,  and 
extended  like  a  great  fan.  One  of  these  fish  could  easily  have 
wrecked  our  boat  with  its  huge  body:  We  hoped  to  reach  the 
blockading  fleet  before  daylight,  but  the  night  grew  cloudy  and 
we  were  unable  to  tell  what  course  we  were  running,  as  the  bay 
grew  wider  and  wider  as  we  went  out.  We  decided  the  best  thing 
we  could  do  was  to  pull  for  land,  which  we  reached  after  midnight, 
pretty  well  exhausted  with  our  hard  work  at  the  paddles.  We 
tied  up  our  boat  and  went  to  a  thicket  near  by  and  slept  soundly. 

"  When  we  awoke  in  the  morning,  we  were  cheered  by  the 
beautiful  surroundings, — all  just  as  nature  had  fashioned  them, 
for  the  habitation  or  handiwork  of  man  was  nowhere  to  be  seen. 
Our  couch  had  been  a  bed  of  prickly  grass,  that  caused  a  sting- 
ing, itching  sensation  all  over  our  bodies.  We  had  slept  in  a 
wild  orange  grove. 

"  We  made  a  hasty  breakfast  on  our  fish  and  potatoes  left  from 
the  night  previous,  and  started  for  our  boat ;  but  imagine  our 
surprise  when  we  found  it  distant  at  least  two  hundred  yards 
from  the  water.  Mark,  who  had  lived  in  the  old  country,  ex- 
plained to  me  that  this  was  the  effect  of  the  ocean  tide,  which  had 
gone  out  since  we  landed,  and  would  not  come  in  again  until  that 
night.  There  was  no  safe  course  left  us  but  to  drag  our  boat  to 
the  water,  which  we  did,  after  tugging  at  it  for  about  an  hour. 

"  When  we  were  again  on  the  water  we  could  see  the  spires 
and  high  buildings  of  the  city  we  had  passed,  but  no  sight  of 
ships  could  we  see.  We  took  our  course  as  well  as  we  could,  and 
w  t  26 


290  CAPTURING  A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

pulled  for  the  open  sea.  A  little  boat,  which  seemed  to  be  a 
fishing-smack  under  full  sail,  passed  away  to  the  leeward  of  us, 
coming  out  from  the  city,  and  caused  us  no  little  concern,  but 
she  passed  off,  and  either  did  not  notice  us  or  care  to  inquire  who 
we  were.  We  plied  our  paddles  industriously  until  about  the 
middle  of  the  afternoon,  when  we  spied  an  island  away  in  the 
distance.  We  had  been  out  of  sight  of  land  for  some  time  and 
the  view  of  the  island  cheered  us  up  a  little,  for  we  knew  if  a 
rough  sea  came  on  that  our  little  boat  was  liable  to  get  swamped. 
This  island  was  much  farther  away  than  we  had  supposed.  As 
we  neared  it  we  were  in  some  doubt  as  to  whether  we  should  pass 
to  the  right  or  left  of  it,  when  our  decision  was  made  by  the  dis- 
covery to  the  left  and  away  in  the  distance  of  something  that 
had  the  appearance  of  dead  trees. 

"  In  the  same  direction,  and  right  in  our  course,  was  some- 
thing that  appeared  like  a  bar  or  gravel-bank.  We  supposed  the 
old  trees  stood  on  another  low  island  or  bar  beyond.  But  as  we 
neared  this  bar,  that  which  at  first  seemed  to  be  dead  trees  began 
to  take  the  shape  of  ship-masts,  and  we  imagined  that  we  could 
see  something  that  looked  like  the  dark  outlines  of  black  smoke- 
stacks in  the  blue,  hazy  distance  This  made  us  quite  nervous, 
and  we  pulled  away  at  the  paddles  with  renewed  vigor  and 
strength.  Before  we  were  scarcely  conscious  of  it  we  were  close 
upon  the  bar,  and  began  to  be  puzzled  how  we  should  get  by 
or  around  it,  for  it  was  longer  than  it  appeared  to  be  when  first 
seen.  Presently  we  discovered  a  narrow,  shallow  channel 
through  it,  and  we  were  not  long  in  getting  our  boat  through. 
As  we  were  going  through,  Mark  gathered  in  a  lot  of  rough, 
muddy-looking  lumps,  which  I  supposed  were  boulders,  and 
soon  called  for  my  old  broken-backed  knife,  after  which  I  saw  him 
open  one  of  the  muddy  chunks  and  eat  something  from  it.  Says 
I, '  Mark  1  you  starving  Yank  I  what  in  thunder  are  you  at  now  ?' 
'Taste  this,'  says  he,  as  he  opened  another  muddy  chunk,  and 
I  lapped  up  from  the  dirty  shell  the  sweetest  oyster  I  had  ever 
tasted. 

"  We  were  in  the  midst  of  a  great  oyster-bed,  the  like  of  which 
I  had  never  before  seen.  I  had  never,  in  fact,  seen  an  oyster  in 
the  shell  before.  Mark  gathered  up  as  many  as  he  could  as  the 
boat  passed  along,  and  when  we  reached  the  still  water  we  made 
quite  a  little  feast  on  them  as  we  paddled  on.  I  think  I  never 
tasted  anything  so  delicious.  We  were  still  very  hungry,  and 
the  moist,  rich,  salty  flavor  of  the  oysters  seemed  to  suit  our  weak, 
famished  stomachs  to  a  nicety. 

"  But  our  little  feast  was  soon  cut  short  by  the  certain  discov- 
ery that  the  dead  trees  were  nothing  less  than  the  masts  of  ves- 
sels. We  could  now  plainly  see  the  yards,  cross-trees,  and  great 
gmoke-stacks.  We  dropped  the  oysters  in  the  bottom  of  the 
boat,  and,  though  quite  exhausted,  the  sight  of  the  vessels  so  re- 
newed our  strength  that  we  made  the  little  boat  scud  over  the 
still  water  at  a  lively  rate.  Soon  we  could  se«  the  long,  gracefu' 


ATLANTA    TO    THE   OULF  291 

streamers  waving  from  the  peaks  of  the  masts,  and  the  outline* 
of  the  dark,  sombre-looking  hulls  of  the  ships. 

"We  were  now  nearing  the  ships  very  fast,  and  were  a  little 
anxious  to  see  their  colors,  as  we  had  become  so  suspicious  of 
everybody  and  everything  that  we  half  feared  running  into  the 
clutches  of  our  enemies.  But  we  were  not  long  in  suspense,  for 
suddenly  a  little  breeze  sprang  up,  and  I  shall  never  forget  my 
joy  on  seeing  the  old  flag,  the  glorious  old  stars  and  stripes,  as 
they  unfolded  to  the  ocean  breeze,  and  seemed  to  extend  their 
beneficent  protection  over  us,  after  nearly  eight  months  of  terri- 
ble bondage.  We  could  see  the  field  of  blue,  studded  with  itl 
golden  stars,  and  the  stripes  of  white  and  red  I  Yes,  it  was  our 
flag,  old  E  Pluribus  Unum  t  We  threw  down  our  paddles  in  the 
boat,  and  stood  up  and  yelled  and  screamed  and  cried  like  a 
couple  of  foolish  boys  lost  in  the  woods.  We  could  not  restrain 
ourselves.  Mark  wanted  to  jump  overboard  and  swim  to  the 
ships,  although  we  were  yet,  perhaps,  nearly  a  mile  away, — at 
least  too  far  to  swim  in  his  condition.  After  we  recovered  our 
senses  a  little,  we  picked  up  the  paddles  and_  began  rowing  again, 
directing  our  course  towards  the  largest  vessel. 

"It  seems  now  like  a  dream  to  me, — that  joyful  day, — the 
most  joyful,  I  was  about  to  say,  of  my  life.  I  believe  there  were 
three  vessels  in  sight.  In  steering  for  the  largest  one,  although 
it  was  the  most  distant,  we  had  to  pass  some  distance  in  front  of 
the  bow  of  a  smaller  ship  or  boat.  We  were  now  getting  so  close 
that  we  could  plainly  see  the  oflicers  and  men  on  the  decks  in 
their  neat,  blue  uniforms.  We  could  see  the  port-holes  in  the 
sides  of  the  ships,  and  the  black  muzzles  of  the  cannon  project- 
ing out.  This  gave  us  much  assurance,  and  we  said  to  ourselves, 
'  Good-by,  rebs  1  We  are  out  of  your  clutches  at  last !' 

"  We  were  rowing  our  insignificant-looking  little  boat  right 
along,  just  as  though  we  intended  to  capture  the  biggest  vessel  in 
the  fleet,  when  a  gruff  voice  from  the  ship,  whose  bow  we  were 
passing,  commanded  us  to  '  Come  to,  there  !'  At  the  same  time 
we  saw  a  grim-looking  old  sea-dog,  in  nice  uniform,  leaning  over 
the  rail,  motioning  us  in  with  his  hand.  We  turned  the  bow  of 
our  little  boat  to.wards  him,  and,  when  we  came  within  better 
ipeaking  distance,  he  interrogated  us,  in  stentorian  voice,  about 
as  follows : 

"  '  Who  in are  you,  and  what  are  you  paddling  under  my 

guns  in  this  manner  for?' 

"  We  were  half-terrified  by  the  old  fellow's  angry,  stern  man- 
ner, and  did  not  know  but  we  had  at  last  fallen  into  the  hands 
of  a  rebel  cruiser  under  false  colors.  We  did  not  know  what  to 
say  to  this  unexpected,  angry  interrogation.  We  paddled  on 
very  slowly,  while  the  sailors  and  oflicers  began  to  gather  in  little 
squads,  and  look  at  us  with  mingled  curiosity  and  merriment. 

"  Presently,  the  officer  hailed  us  again,  with  about  the  same 
questions.  I  now  stood  up  in  our  boat,  and  answered  that  we 
were  two  men  trying  to  get  back  to  God's  country,  among 


292  CAPTURING    A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

friends.  I  was  now  quite  uneasy,  and  suspicious  of  the  ?;«u* 
lion,  and  kept  my  eyes  on  the  officer,  for  I  perceived  he  was  the 
commander.  I  shall  never  forget  his  stern  but  puzzled  look  as 
we  came  up  under  the  bow  of  his  vessel.  We  had  been  so  over- 
joyed and  excited  that  we  had  forgotten  to  pull  the  old  moss, 
which  covered  our  nakedness  and  protected  us  from  the  sun, 
from  our  backs,  and  we  must  have  looked  like  scare-crows  or 
swamp-dragons.  I  cannot  speak  so  well  of  my  own  appearance 
then,  out  can  see  Mark  Wood,  just  as  he  was  on  that  joyful  day, 
and  a  more  comical,  forlorn,  starved-looking  being  cannot  well 
be  imagined. 

11  In  our  boat  were  a  few  cat-fish  partly  skinned,  some  oysters 
in  the  shell,  some  ears  of  scorched  corn,  a  lot  of  moss,  and  our 
old  boots,  for  our  feet  were  yet  sore,  and  we  went  bare-footed 
when  in  the  boat. 

"After  scrutinizing  us  in  silence  for  some  little  time,  as  we 
drifted  up  closer  and  closer,  he  again  demanded  of  us  some  ac- 
count of  our  strange  conduct  and  appearance.  I  told  him  we 
were  enlisted  Federal  soldiers,  and  belonged  to  the  command  of 
General  O.  M.  MitcheJ,  in  Tennessee,  to  which  he  growled  some- 
thing about  our  being  'a long  ways  from  camp.'  I  then 

explained  to  him  briefly  that  we  were  fugitives,  and  the  causes 
that  led  to  it;  that  we  were  nearly  famished  with  hunger,  and 
that,  after  skulking  through  mountains  and  river  by  night,  we 
had  at  last  sought  protection  under  the  old  flag  and  the  guns  of 
his  ship. 

"  I  could  see  that  his  manner  towards  us  had  changed.  He 
plainly  saw  the  indications  of  our  distress.  He  said  he  had 
heard  of  the  raiding  expedition  we  spoke  of,  and  commanded  us 
to  row  up  to  the  ladder  and  come  up  the  ship's  side.  We  did  so, 
and  Wood  went  up  the  steps  first.  The  poor  fellow's  agitation 
and  joy  were  so  great,  and  he  was  so  weak,  that  he  could  scarcely 
raise  his  feet  from  step  to  step  on  the  ladder  or  stairs.  The  com- 
mander, seeing  his  weak,  faltering  condition,  leaned  over  the 
rail,  as  Wood  came  up,  and,  reaching  out,  took  hold  to  assist 
him,  and,  as  he  did  so,  the  rotten  bit  of  old  moss,  which  covered 
Mark's  shoulder  and  back,  all  pulled  off,  and  exposed  his  emaci- 
ated, bony  skeleton,  which,  in  truth,  was  nothing  but  skin  and 
bones.  The  well-fed,  sleek-looking  sailors  seemed  to  look  on  in 
horror,  but  not  more  so  than  the  generous-hearted  commander, 
who  was  moved  almost  to  tears  as  he  was  reaching  over  to  help 
me  as  I  came  to  the  top  of  the  step-ladder.  They  stared  at  as  in 
silent  wonderment,  while  the  sailors  looked  down  into  our  little 
boat  with  comical  curiosity." 

We  need  not  linger  over  the  royal  reception  the 
poor  fugitives  met,  or  their  joy  as  they  partook  of  the 
hospitality  of  the  commander,  or  even  their  still  greater 


FROM   ATLANTA    TO    RICHMOND.  293 

joy  when  they  returned  to  friends  and  comrades,  who 
had  long  mourned  them  as  dead.  From  the  bright  ter- 
mination of  their  sufferings  we  must  turn,  with  deep 
reluctance,  to  the  story  of  the  unfortunate  six,  still  in 
the  power  of  the  eiiemy. 


CHAPTER   XIX. 

PBOM   ATLANTA   TO   RICHMOND. 

we  resolved  to  break  jail  it  was  our  firm  be- 
lief that  failure  or  recapture  meant  death.  Yet  no 
sooner  was  the  excitement  over,  and  we  quiefly  back 
in  prison,  than  hope  began  to  whisper  once  more.  Pos- 
sibly there  was  some  mistake  in  the  report  which  led 
to  our  desperate  effort,  or,  if  it  was  indeed  true,  the  es- 
cape of  the  larger  part  of  the  band  might  derange  the 
plan,  or  change  the  purpose  of  holding  another  court- 
martial.  It  is  sure  that  our  anticipations  of  worse  treat- 
ment were  not  realized.  I  cannot  account  for  the  agree- 
ible  surprise  we  experienced  in  this  particular.  Those 
who  are  Convinced  that  the  mitigations  of  our  lot  were 
caused  by  any  representations  made  by  the  Union  au- 
thorities at  Washington  after  our  comrades  had  escaped 
must  be  mistaken,  because  the  change  took  place  before 
one  of  the  fugitives  had  reached  the  Union  lines.  Wilson 
and  Wood  at  Washington,  as  well  as  the  others  of  our 
number  who  escaped,  did  make  prompt  representations 
to  our  government,  which  may  afterwards  have  been 
of  service  to  us.  But  these  could  scarcely  have  affected 
us  during  our  stay  in  Atlanta,  as  the  time  was  not  suf- 
ficient. Possibly,  it  was  thought  by  the  Confederates 
that  the  little  remnant  of  the  band,  which  had  already 
suffered  so  much,  was  not  worth  persecuting  further 

26* 


294  CAPTURING   A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

However  it  is  explained,  the  succeeding  two  months 
we  remained  in  Atlanta,  after  the  attempted  escape, 
was  the  least  rigorous  imprisonment  endured  by  us  in 
the  South. 

Colonel  Lee  thought  the  jail  no  longer  safe,  and  or- 
dered us  to  be  taken  to  the  city  barracks.  These  were 
in  the  centre  of  Atlanta,  looking  out  on  one  of  its  busi- 
est public  squares.  Our  room  was  also  far  better  than 
had  been  given  to  us  before.  It  was  large,  well  lighted, 
and  provided  with  a  great  open  fireplace,  in  which  a 
fire  was  kept  continually  burning.  Our  door  was  never 
closed,  but  a  sentinel  stood  in  it,  watching  us,  and  the 
gas  was  burned  all  the  night.  The  Confederate  soldiers 
roomed  all  around  us,  and  the  whole  large  house — a 
former  hotel,  I  think — was  surrounded  by  a  line  of 
sentinels.  We  were  in  the  second  story,  and  our  win- 
dows were  not  barred.  We  could  stand  by  them,  and 
watch  the  busy  throng  outside  for  hours  at  a  time. 
All  our  surroundings  were  now  of  a  soldierly  and  civ- 
ilized character.  Our  treatment  was  also  more  cour- 
teous and  considerate  than  formerly. 

Probably  much,  if  not  all,  of  this  change  for  the 
better  may  be  attributed  to  the  character  of  the  man  in 
whose  charge  we  were  now  placed.  Jack  Wells,  as  he 
was  familiarly  called,  had  been  a  lieutenant  in  the  regu- 
lar army  of  the  United  States  before  the  war,  and  had 
not  forgotten  the  traditions  of  the  service.  He  had  no 
feeling  of  resentment  against  us;  on  the  contrary, 
would  come  around  to  our  room  and  talk  by  the  hour, 
telling  us  some  great  stories  of  his  adventures  and  re- 
ceiving as  great  in  return.  His  worst  fault  was  intem- 
perance, being  frequently  half  drunk  and  not  seldom 
going  beyond  that  point.  In  these  cases,  and  when  in 
a  communicative  mood,  he  would  tell  us  that  he  did 
not  care  a  cent  which  side  whipped  in  the  war, — that 
he  only  held  his  present  position  to  avoid  being  con- 
scripted, and  because  he  preferred  having  a  commission 
as  a  volunteer  to  being  compelled  to  fight  as  a  private 


FROM  ATLANTA    TO  RICHMOND  295 

conscript.  But  be  was  an  excellent  disciplinarian,  and 
we  nowhere  had  less  chance  of  escape  than  from  under 
his  watchful  eye  and  among  his  well-drilled  soldiers. 
He  would  allow  no  trifling  with  his  authority,  and  was 
ready  to  punish  with  fearful  severity,  as  some  of  our 
Tennessee  comrades — who  were  citizens,  not  soldiers — 
found.  In  fact,  he  seemed  to  care  very  little  for  those 
who  were  not  soldiers. 

One  of  these  men — Mr.  Pierce,  who  had  accompa- 
nied us  from  Knoxville — one  day  threw  his  allowance 
of  provisions  back  again  into  the  tray  in  which  it  was 
being  passed  around,  with  a  gesture  of  contempt,  but 
without  a  word  being  spoken.  The  supply  was  very 
scanty  and  bad;  but,  as  we  could  get  no  better,  we 
only  thought  that  the  old  man  was  very  foolish  thus  to 
give  up  the  little  that  he  was  offered.  But  this  was 
not  the  end.  In  a  few  minutes  a  file  of  guards  entered, 
took  Pierce  out,  and  tied  his  hands  before  his  knees, 
with  a  stick  inserted  across  under  the  knees  and  over 
the  arms,  in  that  most  uncomfortable  position  known 
to  soldiers  as  "  bucking."  They  left  him  in  the  cold 
hall  all  night.  He  was  able  to  eat  his  morning  allow- 
ance without  difficulty  I 

The  next  Tennessee  sufferer  was  a  Mr.  Barker.  One 
of  the  guards  often  used  to  tease  the  prisoners  by  ask- 
ing them  how  they  liked  being  shut  up  in  a  prison, 
"  playing  checkers  with  their  noses  on  the  windows," 
etc.  A  complaint  to  the  commander  would  probably 
have  caused  a  cessation  of  such  taunts,  which  it  was 
foolish  to  notice  in  any  way.  But  Barker  answered, 
that  he  need  not  feel  so  proud,  for  he  would  certainly 
be  driven  before  long  to  work  like  a  slave  in  the  cotton- 
fields,  to  help  pay  the  expenses  of  the  war.  The  guard 
reported  the"  insult,  and  Barker  was  taken  to  the  pun- 
ishment-room and  there  suspended,  head  downwards, 
till  he  fainted.  This  was  repeated  two  or  three  times, 
and  he  was  then  put  into  a  dark  cell,  only  four  feel 
•quare,  without  food,  for  twenty-four  hours. 


J96  CAPTUR1XQ   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

I  was  personally  very  fortunate  here  in  receiving  the 
favor  of  the  commander,  which  I  used  to  the  advantage 
of  my  comrades  as  well  as  I  was  able.  Having 
nothing  to  read,  for  the  kind  minister  had  not  visited 
us  since  the  attempted  escape,  and  being  determined 
not  to  be  idle,  I  began  to  practise  short-hand  regularly 
each  day.  I  had  learned  it  before,  and  now  wrote  with 
a  pencil  on  any  scraps  of  paper  I  could  find.  Wells 
watched  me  while  thus  engaged,  made  a  good  deal  of 
sport  of  the  "  spider  tracks,"  but  came  in  the  next  day 
and  asked  if  I  would  not  do  a  little  writing  for  him. 
I  was  perfectly  willing,  provided  it  was  not  contrary  to 
my  allegiance  to  the  United  States.  He  laughed  at  the 
qualification,  and  showed  me  that  it  was  the  daily  prison 
reports  that  he  wanted  made  out.  I  did  not  see  that 
this  kind  of  work  would  do  any  harm,  and  undertook 
it.  His  office  adjoined  the  prison  room,  and  he  gave 
orders  that  I  was  to  be  allowed  to  go  from  one  room  to 
the  other  at  pleasure,  but  no  farther.  In  fact,  when  in 
the  office,  there  was  always  a  special  guard  standing  at 
the  door.  A  hundred  schemes  of  escape  flashed  through 
my  brain,  founded  upon  the  additional  privileges  I  now 
had ;  but  I  soon  found  that  the  guards  were  instructed 
to  watch  me  all  the  more  closely  on  account  of  my 
license.  Wells  himself  laughed,  and  said  that  he  would 
ask  no  pledges  of  me,  for  it  was  his  business  to  keep 
us,  and  ours  to  get  away — if  we  could !  The  qualifica- 
tion was  well  put.  The  only  time  the  eye  of  a  guard 
was  off  me  day  or  night  was  while  in  the  office,  and  that 
had  only  one  door,  by  which  the  guard  who  brought 
me  to  the  office  always  stood  till  ready  to  take  me  back 
to  the  common  prison  room.  Yet  I  hoped  something 
might  occur  by  which  I  could  help  my  comrades  and 
myself. 

One  day  I  had  the  heartfelt  pleasure  of  saving  a 
man's  life.  While  I  was  in  Wells'  office  writing  a 
requisition  for  provisions  a  person  dressed  in  the  uni- 
form of  a  rebel  officer  was  brought  in  under  arrest. 


FROM  ATLANTA    TO  RICHMOND.  297 

He  appeared  to  be  very  drunk,  but  remonstrated  so 
very  hard  against  being  put  into  the  rooms  which  had 
common  prisoners  that  Wells  consented  to  let  him  stay 
in  his  office,  to  get  sober  enougli  to  give  an  account  of 
himself.  He  had  five  hundred  dollars  in  gold,  which 
had  been  taken  from  him, — a  marvellous  possession, 
which  Wells  asked  me  to  feel  the  weight  of, — but  as 
the  officer  furiously  demanded  his  money,  it  was  given 
back  to  him.  As  the  charge  against  him  had  not  yet 
been  made  known,  Wells  believed  that  it  was  only  that 
of  drunkenness, — an  offence  with  which  he  had  great 
sympathy.  When  the  man  got  his  money  he  sank 
down  on  a  lounge  in  a  drunken  stupor.  Wells  had 
some  business  to  transact,  and  soon  went  out.  Ser- 
geant White,  the  second  in  command,  was  with  us,  but 
he,  too,  soon  took  his  departure.  I  was  busy  writing, 
but,  hearing  a  step,  I  looked  up  and  saw  the  stranger 
approaching  me.  A  startling  change  had  taken  place. 
No  trace  of  drunkenness  was  visible,  but  in  place  of  it 
a  terrible  expression  of  anxiety  and  determination.  I 
glanced  about  the  desk  to  see  that  the  heavy  inkstand 
was  in  easy  reach,  for  I  had  never  seen  a  more  desper- 
ate face.  He  leaned  over  my  chair,  and  whispered, 
"  You  are  a  prisoner  ?" 

"Yes,  sir/' 

"  One  they  call  engine  thieves  ?" 

I  nodded  assent. 

"  I  know  you,"  said  he ;  "  I  know  all  about  you.  I 
was  here  when  your  comrades  were  hung.  Brave  men 
they  were,  and  the  cruel  deed  will  yet  be  avenged.  I 
am  not  afraid  to  trust  you.  The  commander  here 
don't  know  who  I  am  yet,  but  he  will  soon  learn,  and 
then  I  will  have  to  die,  for  I  am  a  spy  from  the  Fed- 
eral army,"  Then  he  added,  with  a  most  appealing 
took,  "  Can't  you  help  me  to  escape,  before  it  is  too 
/ate?" 

I  was  amazed,  and  for  a  moment  doubtful ;  but  a 
f<ew  hasty  questions,  put  to  test  his  knowledge  of  the 


298  CAPTURING  A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

Federal  army  and  his  present  character,  set  my  doubts 
at  rest     Then  I  asked,  "  What  can  I  do  for  you  ?" 

He  answered,  "  Can't  you  write  me  a  pass  and  sign 
the  commander's  name  to  it?" 

I  shook  my  head.  If  a  pass  written  in  such  circum- 
stances had  been  worth  anything,  I  would  probably 
have  written  one  for  myself  and  comrades  before  that 
time.  Wells,  who  did  not  trust  me  at  all,  had  guarded 
that  very  point  in  his  orders. 

Then  my  new  friend  proposed  that  we  together  break 
past  the  guard  and  run  for  it.  I  had  no  wish  for  such 
a  trial  with  only  one  to  help.  There  was  my  guard  at 
the  office-door ;  two  more  guards  in  the  hall ;  a  bar- 
rack-room, with  always  a  dozen  or  more  soldiers  in  it, 
at  the  head  of  the  stairway;  two  guards  at  the  front 
door ;  and  a  line  of  sentiuels  around  the  whole  building. 

But  as  I  glanced  around  the  room  my  eye  rested  ou 
a  fine  overcoat  of  Wells'  lying  on  the  foot  of  the  office 
bed,  and  an  idea  struck  me.  The  prisoner  was  a  short, 
thick  man,  about  the  same  size  and  build  of  Wells. 
Said  I,  "Take  that  overcoat,"  pointing  to  it,  "and 
throw  it  around  you,  and  just  walk  out  as  indepen- 
dently as  though  you  owned  the  entire  establishment. 
It  is  now  nearly  dark,  and  the  chances  are  that  you 
will  not  be  halted  at  all." 

His  countenance  lighted  at  once.  "  I'll  do  it !"  he 
exclaimed,  with  suppressed  eagerness.  To  fold  him 
self  in  the  cloak,  nearly  crush  my  hand  as  he  said 
"  Thank  you !  Thank  you !"  and  to  open  the  dooi 
and  walk  out,  was  the  work  of  but  a  moment.  I  lis- 
tened as  his  firm  step  died  away  along  the  hall,  but 
there  was  no  challenge,  no  sound  that  betokened  any 
discovery.  The  soldiers,  seeing  the  familiar  coat,  mast 
have  supposed  its  rightful  owner  in  it,  and  allowed  it 
to  pass  unhindered.  A  moment  after  Sergeant  White 
came  in.  I  feared  he  would  notice  the  prisoner's  ab- 
sence, but  he  did  not.  I  got  him  engaged  in  story- 
telling as  soon  as  possible,  to  postpone  any  inquiries 


FROM  ATLANTA    TO   RICHMOND.  299 

For  some  five  minutes  I  succeeded  very  well,  when 
Wells  entered,  cast  an  uneasy  glance  about  the  room, 
and  at  once  exclaimed,  "  Sergeant,  whore  is  that  officer  ? 
Did  you  put  him  in  another  room  ?" 

The  sergeant  answered  that  he  had  been  out,  and 
that  when  he  returned  he  saw  nothing  of  (he  man. 

It  was  Wells'  turn  to  be  startled  now.  He  sprang 
over  to  me  and  demanded  sternly,  "  Pitlenger,  where's 
that  officer?" 

I  was  not  in  the  least  terrified.  In  fact,  I  was  greatly 
amused,  and  for  the  moment  forgetting  the  purpose 
formed  two  months  before,  of  always  avoiding  untruth 
as  well  as  all  other  evil  things,  I  answered,  "  What 
officer?" 

"  That  officer  I  put  in  here." 

"  Oh  !  that  drunken  fellow?" 

"  Yes  ;  where  is  he  ?" 

"  The  last  I  saw  of  him,  he  picked  up  his  coat  and 
said  he  was  going  to  supper." 

"  Going  to  supper,  was  he  ?  Ho  1  I  see  !  Sergeant, 
run  to  the  guards  and  tell  them  if  they  let  him  out 
I'll  have  every  one  of  them  hung  up  by  the  heels." 

Wells  was  in  a  towering  passion  at  once.  The  alarm 
was  sounded,  and  for  a  few  minutes  a  terrible  commo- 
tion prevailed,  but  nothing  was  seen  of  the  drunken 
fugitive,  whose  importance  began  to  be  known.  Soon 
Wells  returned,  and  demanded  in  a  peremptory  tone, 
"  Pittenger,  why  did  not  you  give  the  alarm  when  he 
started  ?" 

I  answered  carelessly,  "  Oh  !  I  did  not  know  that  my 
business  in  the  South  was  to  guard  prisoners." 

"  Of  course  not,"  he  returned ;  "  but  I  wish  you  had 
called  me  this  time." 

Then  after  a  moment's  silence,  he  continued,  "  You 
said  he  took  his  coat.  Had  he  a  coat  ?" 

"  I  suppose  so,  sir,"  J  returned,  "  or  he  would  not 
have  taken  it." 

"  He  brought  none  in      Where  did  he  get  it  ?" 


300  CAPTURING  A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

"  Off  the  foot  of  that  bed/' 

Wells  sprang  to  his  feet  as  quickly  as  if  he  had  been 
galvanized,  kicked  the  chair  on  which  he  had  been 
sitting  clear  across  the  room,  and  exclaimed,  "  My  over- 
coat! sure  as  !  Worth  eighty  dollars!  The 

villain !" 

No  intelligence  of  this  spy  reached  Atlanta  while 
we  remained  there.  Wells  told  me  that  there  was  no 
doubt  he  had  gotten  entirely  away. 

While  in  this  place,  I  had  the  opportunity  of  learn- 
ing that  there  were  many  lovers  of  the  old  Union  in 
Atlanta.  These  visited  us,  and,  although  always  in  the 
presence  of  the  guards,  managed  to  express  their  kind- 
ness in  very  tangible  ways.  They  told  us  much  of 
their  hopes,  and  of  the  strength  they  numbered.  A 
certain  l>r.  Scott  was  very  liberal  in  his  contributions 
to  our  wants.  I  had  afterwards  the  pleasure  of  repay- 
ing his  kindness,  when  he  had  been  forced  to  flee  for 
his  life,  and  arrived  destitute  in  the  North.  The 
money  we  thus  obtained,  together  with  some  small 
presents  Captain  Wells  bestowed,  when  pleased  with 
the  writing  1  did  for  him,  gave  us  the  means  of  living 
almost  luxuriously.  One  dainty  I  remember  with  es- 
pecial delight.  Sweet  potatoes  were  very  abundant  and 
cheap,  and  we  were  allowed  to  buy  as  many  as  our 
means  permitted,  and  roast  them  in  the  ashes  of  the 
wood  fire  which  always  glowed  on  our  hearth.  The 
great  mealy  potatoes,  raked  out  and  dusted  off  and 
eaten  hot,  constituted  a  feast  good  enough  for  a  king ! 
I  have  never  since  found  any  sweet  potatoes  equal  to 
those  we  devoured  by  the  bushel  in  the  old  Atlanta 
barracks.  This  abundant  living  made  some  amends 
for  the  six  months  of  famine  that  preceded  it,  and 
gave  strength,  which  was  still  to  be  sorely  tested  before 
the  day  of  deliverance.  The  memory  of  those  beautiful 
autumnal  days,  when  we  could  look  from  our  unbarred 
windows  upon  the  sky  and  the  street,  when  we  could 
gather  around  the  fire  and  under  the  gas-jet  in  the  even- 


FROM  ATLANTA    TO  RICHMOND.  3Q1 

ing,  when  hunger  no  longer  pinched,  and  when  health, 
which  I  had  long  missed,  came  back,  when  some  con- 
sideration was  shown  for  us  even  by  our  guards,  and 
when  visitors  often  whispered  words  or  gave  signs  of 
sympathy  for  our  cause  as  well  as  for  ourselves,  is  not 
altogether  unpleasant.  True,  we  were  still  prisoners, 
and  our  fate  as  uncertain  as  ever ;  but  it  was  easy  to 
persuade  ourselves  that  these  more  pleasant  surround- 
ings were  the  promise  of  still  greater  good. 

Our  religious  exercises  were  here  continued  as  per- 
sistently and  publicly  as  in  the  jail.  There  were  serious 
difficulties  to  overcome.  Some  of  our  own  party  seemed 
to  consider  that  our  release  from  the  dark  cells  of  a 
criminal  prison  removed  the  necessity  of  morning  and 
evening  prayer.  We  were  not  alone,  and  the  soldiers 
who  were  "  off  duty"  came  to  our  door  when  it  was 
first  reported  that  "  the  Yankees  were  having  prayer- 
meeting,"  and  greatly  annoyed  us  by  interruptions  and 
by  a  continual  series  of  comments  upon  the  exercises. 
We  endured  this  for  a  time,  but  at  last  I  appealed  to 
Wells.  He  gave  us  protection  from  the  guard,  saying 
that  he  could  not  stand  praying  himself,  but  if  we 
could  get  any  good  out  of  it  we  were  welcome,  and 
should  not  be  disturbed.  The  opposition  of  the  pris- 
oners soon  gave  way  also,  and  our  morning  and  evening 
devotions  were  seasons  of  great  interest.  Even  pris- 
oners from  other  rooms  came  to  their  open  doors  that 
they  might  hear  the  reading  and  prayers,  and  join  with 
us  in  song.  Faith,  hope,  and  courage  were  sustained 
by  this  recognition  of  God  more  than  by  all  other 
agencies  combined. 

An  effort  was  here  made  to  get  recruits  out  of  the 
prison  for  the  Confederate  army.  Especially  were  the 
regular  soldiers  who  were  in  our  company  importuned. 
But  our  band  were  not  asked.  I  presume  they  thought 
we  could  not  be  trusted.  Had  the  offer  now  been  made 
I  would  not  have  accepted,  though  I  would  have  done 
»o  without  hesitation  at  any  time  preceding  the  death 

96 


502  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

of  our  friends.  Now  my  religious  principles  would 
have  prevented  me  from  taking  the  oath  of  allegiance 
to  the  Confederacy  for  the  mere  purpose  of  breaking  it 
by  desertion.  But  I  was  glad  the  temptation  was  not 
offered  to  any  of  our  band. 

At  length  there  came  to  us  most  startling  news, — a 
court-martial  was  again  convened  !  This  was  the  first 
since  the  ever-memorable  one  at  Knoxvillc,  and  we 
awaited  its  action  with  breathless  interest.  A  week  of 
sickening  suspense  passed  and  no  summons  came  for 
us.  Had  we  been  ordered  out  for  trial  we  had  resolved 
to  try  again  to  escape,  even  if  the  effort  only  resulted 
in  throwing  us  on  the  bayonets  of  the  surrounding 
guards.  But  when  news  came  that  the  court  had  ad- 
journed, we  were  as  much  rejoiced  as  we  had  been 
fearful  before.  It  did  look  as  if  they  intended  to  per- 
secute the  feeble  remnant  of  our  party  no  further ;  and 
passing  from  the  extreme  of  despondency  to  that  of 
hope,  we  began  once  more  to  indulge  the  blissful  expec- 
tations of  exchange.  But  our  time  had  not  yet  come. 

The  weeks  rolled  on.  Few  things  worthy  of  note 
occurred.  The  same  monotony  which  makes  prison- 
life  so  dreary  robs  it  of  interest  when  recorded.  We 
would  rise  in  the  morning  from  our  hard  bed — the 
floor — and  wash  ourselves  by  pouring  water  on  each 
other's  hands ;  then  eat  our  scanty  rations  when  brought. 
Then  the  effort  was  to  kill  time  until  dinner  came,  which 
was  about  four  o'clock.  It  was  not  abundant,  but  if 
we  iiad  a  bundle  of  roasted  sweet  potatoes  to  add  from 
our  own  stores,  as  often  happened,  it  was  not  so  bad. 
Then  we  did  anything  to  keep  busy  until  the  gas  was 
lit.  This  was  kept  burning  all  night,  not  from  any 
favor  to  us,  but  only  that  the  guards  might  see  that  we 
were  not  arranging  any  plan  for  escaping. 

This  was  the  most  cheerful  hour  of  the  day,  for 
under  the  soft  inspiration  of  the  gaslight  conversation 
flowed  freely,  and  all  the  incidents  of  our  past  lives 
were  rehearsed.  Wells  or  some  other  rebel  officer 


FROM  ATLANTA    TO   RICHMOND.  3Q3 

would  often  enter  and  talk  with  us.  Arguments  and 
discussion  on  all  manner  of  subjects  were  introduced, 
and  often  continued  until  the  midnight  bells  were 
striking  in  the  town.  Then  would  come  our  evening 
prayers  as  we  lay  down  to  dream  often  of  home  and 
friends  and  freedom.  In  the  morning  the  same  round 
recommenced.  Thus  days  glided  into  weeks,  and 
weeks  passed  into  months.  The  golden  hues  of  autumn 
deepened  into  the  sombre  colors  of  early  winter,  and 
still  we  were  in  Atlanta.  It  almost  seemed  as  if  we 
would  never  be  anywhere  else. 

At  length  there  came  a  day  of  wonderful  joy.  A 
number  of  officers,  including  the  provost-marshal,  came 
to  the  barracks,  and,  inquiring  out  our  room,  had  us 
all  drawn  up  in  line.  One  of  them  stepped  forth  and 
addressed  us,  saying  that  he  had  good  news  to  commu 
nicate,  which  they  had  been  hoping  to  receive  for  som& 
time  past.  He  continued,  "You  have  all  been  ex- 
changed, and  all  that  now  remains  is  to  send  you  out 
of  our  territory  by  way  of  Richmond  and  City  Point." 

Each  of  them  then  came  along  our  line  and  shook 
hands  with  us, — the  Tennesseeans  and  regular  soldiers 
'  jcluded,  twenty  in  all, — offering  congratulations  on  the 
happy  terminations  of  our  trials,  and  wishing  us  much 
joy  on  our  arrival  at  home. 

Our  feelings  were  indescribable,  but  strangely  min- 
gled. There  was  an  overwhelming  rush  of  emotions 
which  forbade  utterance, — rapture  exceedingly  great, 
and  yet  mingled  with  a  deep  touch  of  sorrow  that  our 
seven  dead — murdered — comrades  were  not  with  us  to 
share  the  joy  of  this  hour.  And  the  eight  also  who 
had  managed  to  get  out  of  the  clutches  of  the  rebels  by 
their  own  daring, — we  were  uneasy  about  them.  Only 
a  day  or  two  before  we  had  seen  in  an  Atlanta  paper, 
obtained,  as  usual,  through  the  negroes,  who  were  wait- 
ers here  as  well  as  at  the  jail,  an  article  clipped  from  the 
Cincinnati  Commercial,  telling  of  the  arrival  of  Porter 
<»nd  Wollam  at  Corinth,  as  narrated  above.  Of  tiw 


304  CAPTURING  A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

others  we  had  received  no  reliable  information,  but  sup- 
posed that  some  of  them  at  least  had  perished.  The 
provost-marshal  told  us  that  three  had  been  shot  and 
left  in  the  woods,  but  we  did  not  fully  credit  him. 

Notwithstanding  all  this,  the  prospect  of  liberty  was 
enough  to  make  our  hearts  overflow  with  gratitude  to 
God.  I  was  so  agitated  that  when  Wells  asked  me  to 
Arite  a  requisition  for  provisions  for  the  trip  to  Rich- 
mond I  could  not  do  it,  and  had  to  transfer  the  work 
to  more  steady  hands.  It  was  nine  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing when  we  received  the  glad  news,  and  we  were  to 
start  for  home — via  Richmond — at  seven  in  the  even- 
ing. As  the  time  for  departure  drew  near,  we  again 
lit  the  gas,  and  made  up  a  fire,  the  ruddy  blaze  of 
which  was  an  emblem  of  cheerfulness,  to  take  a  fare- 
well view  of  the  room  in  which  we  had  spent  so  many 
not  altogether  unhappy  hours.  Often  afterwards  did 
we  remember  that  bright  hour  of  expectation. 

We  were  forbidden  to  take  any  blankets  with  us, 
being  told  that  we  would  soon  be  where  blankets  were 
plenty.  The  pieces  of  carpet  we  had  managed  to  se- 
cure as  blankets  were  therefore  left  behind,  with  the 
exception  of  two  small  strips,  which  were  afterwards 
very  serviceable.  A  great  surprise  met  us  when  we 
were  ordered  to  start.  We  were  not  tied!  This  was 
the  first  journey  on  which  we  had  been  sent  so  care- 
lessly, and  it  afforded  the  strongest  presumption  that 
the  exchange  was  a  reality. 

All  was  now  in  readiness  for  our  departure,  and  we 
took  a  last  look  at  rebel  Atlanta.  The  guards  fell  in 
on  each  side  of  us,  and  we  wended  our  way  along  the 
dark  streets.  Wells,  even  drunker  than  usual,  accom- 
panied us  to  the  cars,  where  he  hiccoughed  an  affection- 
ate farewell.  I  carried  away  one  good  article  of  dress, 
— a  nice  felt  hat.  The  day  before  Wells  clapped  it  on 
my  head,  telling  me  that  I  looked  better  in  it  than  in  my 
own  shabby  cap.  I  supposed  that  it  was  only  a  freak, 
and  that  he  would  reclaim  it  again,  but  he  did  not.  )  > 


FROM  ATLANTA    TO    RICHMOND.  3Q6 

was  much  out  of  suit  witli  my  other  garments,  but  I 
wore  it  until  I  had  a  chance  to  sell  it  for  a  great  price 
— in  Confederate  money  ! 

Sergeant  White  commanded  our  escort.  He  had 
always  been  kind  to  us,  and,  like  his  superior,  did  not 
care  which  side  came  out  best  in  the  war,  so  long  as  he 
was  not  hurt.  The  guard  was  only  ten  in  number, 
while  we  were  twenty  and  unbound, — a  ridiculous  fall- 
ing off  from  former  precautions. 

We  were  crowded  into  box-cars,  and  soon  began  to 
suffer  severely  with  cold,  for  the  night  air  wa«i  most 
piercing.  It  was  the  3d  of  December,  and  we  had 
only  summer  clothing,  which  was,  in  addition,  very 
ragged.  About  three  o'clock  in  the  morning  we  left 
the  train  at  Dalton  to  wait  for  another  train  to  Cleve- 
land, as  we  were  not  to  go  through  Chattanooga.  This 
was  our  last  passage  over  the  railroad  we  had  so  much 
wished  to  destroy  nine  months  before. 

The  stars  were  sparkling  in  light  and  frosty  bril- 
liancy when  we  stopped,  and  the  keen  and  icy  wind 
cut  almost  through  us.  We  nearly  perished  before  the 
train  arrived,  and  enabled  us  to  continue  our  journey. 

In  the  morning  we  found  that  our  three  days' 
rations,  which  were  to  last  to  Richmond,  were  barely 
sufficient  for  breakfast.  We  ate  everything,  and  trusted 
to  buying  something  with  the  remaining  money  our 
Atlanta  Union  friends  had  given  us.  When  that  failed 
we  had  our  old  resource, — the  endurance  of  hunger. 

During  this  day's  ride  on  the  cars  we  discussed  the 
question  as  to  whether  it  would  not  be  best  to  capture 
the  guard  and  escape.  The  task  did  not  seem  hard. 
The  guards  were  very  careless,  and  we  could  at  any 
time  have  had  as  many  guns  as  they  had.  They  sat 
on  the  same  seats  with  us,  and  were  often  asleep.  Sev- 
eral times  on  the  trip  we  wakened  the  sentinels  by  the 
doors  as  the  corporal  approached,  thus  saving  them 
from  punishment.  Once  Sergeant  White  laughingly 
told  us  that  we  could  escape  if  we  tried,  but  that  he 
u  26* 


306  CAPTURING  A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

thought  it  would  be  more  pleasant  for  us  to  ride  around 
by  way  of  Richmond  rather  than  to  walk  over  the  moun- 
tains on  our  own  responsibility.  This  very  security 
lulled  our  suspicions,  and  made  us  shrink  from  under- 
taking an  escape  which  would  have  involved  severe 
hardship  in  mountain  travel,  if  nothing  worse.  Be- 
sides, we  no  longer  had  the  same  homogeneous  party  as 
in  Atlanta. 

In  the  afternoon  we  passed  Knoxville,  and  were 
glad  to  keep  right  on.  Then  came  the  town  of  Green- 
ville, the  home  of  our  former  companion,  the  heroic 
Captain  Fry.  About  nightfall  we  reached  the  Vir- 
ginia line,  and  ran  steadily  on.  It  was  a  beautiful 
night;  the  moon  shone  over  the  pale,  frosty  hills  with 
a  mellow  radiance  which  made  the  whole  landscape  en- 
chanting. The  shifting  scenes  of  mountain,  stream,  or 
ghostly  wood  seemed  to  me  like  a  panorama  of  human 
life.  The  morning  dawned  upon  us,  still  steaming 
slowly  through  the  romantic  valleys  of  Virginia. 

The  next  day  was  wet  and  dreary.  Our  car  leaked, 
our  fire  went  out,  and  we  were  thoroughly  uncomfort- 
able. By  evening  we  had  reached  the  mountain  city 
of  Lynchburg,  and  discovered  that  we  had  missed  the 
railroad  connection.  This  led  to  a  delay  of  twenty-four 
hours,  which  we  greatly  regretted,  being  very  anxious 
to  get  speedily  through  to  our  own  lines.  We  had  all 
our  plans  laid  for  the  happy  day  of  our  arrival  at 
Washington. 

We  were  quartered  in  a  large  bare  room  belonging 
to  the  barracks,  where  some  of  the  worst  criminals  of 
the  Confederacy  were  also  confined.  There  was  a  great 
stove  in  the  centre  of  the  room,  but,  as  no  fire  was  put 
in  it,  we  had  to  endure  another  night  of  dampness  and 
cold.  The  only  consolation  was  found  in  the  thought 
that  we  would  not  have  many  more  such  nights  to 
spend  before  reaching  home.  I  paced  the  floor  till 
nearly  morning,  and  saw  a  good  many  amusing  inci- 
iente.  Many  of  the  rebels  were  drunic  and  disposed 


FROM  ATLANTA    TO   RICHMOND.  3Q7 

( >  mischief.  One  man  diverted  himself  by  walking 
around  the  room  on  the  forms  of  those  who  were  try- 
ing to  sleep.  In  his  round  he  stepped  on  Bensinger, — 
one  of  our  party.  The  infliction  was  patiently  endured 
the  first  time,  but  as  the  sot  came  again,  Bensinger  was 
on  the  lookout,  and,  springing  to  his  feet,  gave  him  a 
blow  that  stretched  him  out  on  the  floor.  Some  of  his 
companions  rushed  forward  to  resent  the  just  punish- 
ment, but  Bensinger's  friends  also  were  prepared,  and 
there  was  a  good  prospect  of  a  general  fray.  But,  as 
soon  as  the  ruffians  understood  the  position,  they  re- 
tired to  their  own  side  of  the  room. 

In  the  raw  and  chill  morning  I  found  here  some  of 
the  most  virulent  enemies  of  the  Union  I  had  yet  seen. 
A  prisoner  loudly  declared  that  no  quarter  ought  to  be 
given  in  the  war, — said  that  he  had  advocated  raising 
the  black  flag  from  the  first,  asserting  that  "  if  it  had 
been  raised  the  war  would  have  been  over  long  since." 

"  No  doubt  of  it,"  I  replied.  "  In  that  case  the 
whole  Southern  race  would  have  been  exterminated 
long  before  this." 

That  mode  of  ending  the  war  had  not  entered  his 
mind,  and  he  did  not  appear  pleased  with  the  sugges- 
tion. 

A  little  before  dark  the  next  evening  we  again 
started,  and  now  had  good,  comfortable  cars, — the  best 
we  had  enjoyed  on  the  route.  But  we  only  ran  a  short 
distance  to  the  junction,  where  we  had  to  leave  them 
and  wait  the  arrival  of  another  train.  Here  was  the  best 
chance  of  escape  we  had  yet  found.  The  night  was 
pitchy  dark,  and  so  cold  that  the  guards  built  a  great  fire 
on  the  border  of  a  strip  of  woodland,  and  allowed  us  to 
help  in  gathering  withered  sticks  to  replenish  it.  They 
scarcely  appeared  to  notice  us,  and  all  that  was  neces- 
sary for  escape  was  to  give  the  word  and  run  for  it. 
Nothing  held  us  but  the  absolute  confidence  of  a  speedy 
exchange,  and,  depending  upon  that,  the  golden  oppor- 
tunity was  neglected.  Of  course,  the  perils  and  hard- 


308  CAPTURING  A  LOCOMOTIVE. 

ships  of  wandering  through  the  Virginia  mountains  «* 
the  depth  of  winter  would  have  been  severe,  but  -he 
start  would  have  been  mere  child's  play.  Oh !  how 
bitterly  we  afterwards  regretted  that  we  had  not  darted 
into  the  depths  of  the  forest  and  sought  to  effect  our 
own  exchange ! 


CHAPTER  XX. 

LJBBY    AND   CASTLE   THUNDER. 

IN  a  few  hours  the  train  for  which  we  waited  ar- 
rived, and,  passing  onward  without  further  noticeable 
events,  long  before  morning  we  were  in  Richmond. 
There  was  the  same  intense  and  piercing  cold  which 
had  been  the  main  element  in  our  suffering  during  this 
journey,  but  the  sky  was  clear,  and  the  rebel  capital 
was  distinctly  seen  hi  the  sparkling  moonlight.  Every- 
thing looked  grim  and  silent  through  the  frosty  air, 
and  our  teeth  chattered  fast  and  loud  as  we  walked  up 
a  street  of  the  sleeping  city. 

But  the  sergeant  in  command  of  our  party  did  not 
know  what  to  do  with  us.  We  hoped  that  some  ar- 
rangements had  been  made  for  forwarding  us  directly 
to  City  Point,  the  place  of  exchange,  so  that  we  might 
that  very  day  behold  once  more  the  stars  and  stripe.?. 
Yet  we  knew  it  was  more  probable  that  some  detention 
would  occur.  The  sergeant  left  us  where  we  were 
while  he  started  in  search  of  the  provost-marshal's 
office  for  instructions.  We  endeavored  to  shelter  our- 
Belves  as  best  we  could  from  the  unbearable  cold,  which 
really  threatened  to  prove  fatal.  Two  pieces  of  ragged 
carpet  were  all  the  protection  we  had,  in  addition  to  our 
well-worn  summer  clothing,  and  we  spread  these  over 
our  heads  as  we  huddled  together  in  a  solid  mass  in 
the  angle  of  a  brick  wall.  It  was  astonishing  what  a 


•LIBBY  AND    CASTLE    THUNDER.  399 

relief  this  afforded, — especially  to  those  who  were  in 
the  inside  of  the  pack,  where  I  happened  to  be.  Here 
we  shivered  till  the  sergeant  returned.  He  had  found 
the  headquarters  of  the  prison  department  and  con- 
ducted us  thither. 

Several  streets  were  threaded  in  the  moonlight,  and 
when  the  office  was  reached,  to  add  to  our  discomfort, 
it  was  destitute  of  fire.  We  stood  in  the  empty  room, 
looking  at  the  grim  portraits  of  rebel  generals  for  an 
hour  or  two,  until  the  marshal  entered.  He  did  not 
deign  to  speak  to  us,  but  broke  open  a  sealed  letter 
Sergeant  White  handed  him  and  read  aloud  that  ten 
disloyal  Tenuesseeans,  four  prisoners  of  war,  and  six 
engine  thieves  were  hereby  forwarded  to  Richmond  by 
order  of  General  Beauitgard.  The  old  name  applied 
to  us  was  no  small  shock.  We  had  hoped  that  the 
title  of  "  engine  thieves"  had  been  left  behind,  and  that 
from  henceforth  we  would  be  only  called  "  prisoners  of 
war."  But  we  still  trusted  to  be  soon  beyond  their 
lines,  and  it  would  make  no  real  difference  what  name 
they  exchanged  us  under.  The  marshal  then  gave  his 
orders,  and  we  were  conducted  onward. 

By  this  time  it  was  daylight,  December  7,  1862. 
Richmond  looked  still  more  cheerless  in  the  cold  morn- 
ing than  in  the  moonlight. 

A  long  march  through  a  number  of  streets  brought 
us  to  the  banks  of  the  James  River,  where  we  halted 
in  front  of  a  most  desolate-looking  but  very  large  brick 
building,  situated  near  the  water,  and  surrounded  by  a 
formidable  circle  of  guards.  This  we  supposed  to  be 
a  prison,  and  soon  learned  that  we  were  right.  It  w&* 
the  famous  LIBBY. 

We  entered,  were  conducted  up  a  flight  of  steps,  and 
reached  a  vast,  open  room,  where  we  saw,  almost  for 
the  first  time  since  our  capture,  the  old,  familiar  United 
States  uniform,  and  were  soon  in  the  midst  of  over  a 
hundred  United  States  soldiers. 

Our  greeting  at  first  was  not  very  friendly,  as  w« 


310  CAPTURING  A  LOCOMOTIVE. 

i 

still  more  the  ragged  clothing  that  had  served  us 
all  summer;  but  as  soon  as  our  true  character  and 
history  became  known,  a  most  cordial  welcome  was 
extended.  There  was  only  one  small  stove  in  the 
cold,  empty  room,  around  which  part  of  the  inmates 
were  huddled.  But  with  the  characteristic  courtesy 
and  chivalry  of  the  American  soldier  they  cleared 
a  place  beside  it  for  us.  When  I  got  warm  I  had 
leisure  to  look  around. 

The  prospect  was  not  very  cheerful.  Above,  the 
floor  had  been  taken  out,  leaving  only  the  rafters  be- 
tween us  and  the  roof.  The  window  sashes  were  all 
removed,  and  the  cold  wind  whistled  in  from  the 
river  far  more  sharply  than  was  consistent  with  com- 
fort. Only  a  very  scanty  amount  of  fuel  was  allowed 
per  day,  and  when  that  was  exhausted  they  had  to 
endure  the  freezing  as  best  they  could.  The  room 
was  too  large  and  open  to  be  warmed  throughout, 
and  only  a  few  could  gather  around  the  stove.  The 
food  was  neither  better  nor  worse  than  in  other 
Southern  prisons.  Probably  among  all  the  prisoners, 
past  and  present,  we  were  the  only  ones  glad  to  be 
there.  We  regarded  it  as  the  sure  pledge  that  our 
foes  had  not  deceived  us  in  their  promise  of  an  ex- 
change, for  these  men,  with  whom  we  found  our- 
selves, were  actually  going  northward  on  the  next 
truce-boat,  which  was  daily  expected.  What  mat- 
tered the  cold  wind  or  the  bare  floor  with  such  a 
hope?  We  felt  that  we  were  no  longer  held  as  crimi- 
nals, but  were  now  in  the  common  prison,  with  other 
soldiers,  sure  that  the  day  of  final  release  could  not 
be  far  off.  What  wonder  if  our  joy  was  too  deep  for 
words,  and  we  could  only  turn  it  over  in  our  minds, 
and  tremble  lest  it  should  prove  too  delightful  to  re- 
alize? The  vision  of  freedom  was  so  warm  and  vivid 
that  all  hardships  were  forgotten.  It  was  also  very 
agreeable  to  talk  with  our  comrades  who  had  recent- 
ly been  captured,  and  get  news  of  the  progress  of 
the  war  from  a  Federal  stand-point.  All  the  intelli- 
gence we  had  obtained  for  a  long  period  came 


LIBBY   AND    CASTLE   THUNDER.  31  ] 

wlored  by  Southern  prejudices.  In  such  communion 
with  friends  who  were  still  confident  of  success  in  the 
great  conflict  the  time  passed  rapidly. 

But  in  the  midst  of  our  conversation,  probably  two 
hours  after  our  entrance,  an  officer  came  to  the  door 
and  called  for  the  men  who  had  just  been  admitted. 
Every  one  in  the  room  but  ourselves  had  taken  the 
customary  oath  of  parole,  not  to  serve  against  the  Con- 
federacy until  regularly  exchanged ;  and  supposing  that 
omission  in  our  case  was  about  to  be  supplied,  we 
gladly  responded.  The  guard  led  us  down  to  the  en- 
trance hall  and  called  over  our  names.  The  four  pris- 
oners of  war  who  had  come  from  Atlanta  with  us  were 
sent  up-stairs  again,  while  we  were  turned  into  an  im- 
mense, but  dark  and  low,  room  on  the  left  of  the  stair- 
way and  the  door  locked  behind  us. 

This  was  an  awful  moment.  The  full  meaning  of 
this  separation  burst  upon  us.  We  had  been  taken 
away  from  those  who  were  to  be  exchanged  and  put  in 
a  room  reserved  for  those  regarded  as  criminals.  We 
had  been  bitterly  deceived,  and  our  hopes  at  once  fell 
from  the  highest  neaven  to  which  they  had  soared.  A 
cold  sense  of  misery  and  despair  came  over  us.  No 
wonder  we  looked  at  each  other  with  pale,  troubled 
countenances  in  the  dim  light,  and  asked  questions 
none  were  prepared  to  solve. 

But  for  one  moment  only  were  we  thus  crushed ;  the 
next  we  eagerly  sought  an  avenue  for  hope.  Perhaps 
they  did  not  choose  to  recognize  us  as  soldiers,  and 
merely  wished  to  exchange  us  as  civilians, — a  matter 
of  perfect  indifference  to  us,  provided  we  were  ex- 
changed at  all.  We  looked  around  to  see  what  foun- 
dation we  could  build  on  for  this  pleasant  conjecture. 

Our  present  apartment  contained  even  more  prison- 
ers than  that  up-stairs.  They  were  not  Northern  sol- 
diers, but  were  from  all  parts  of  the  South.  Some  of 
them  had  been  in  prison  ever  since  the  war  broke  out, 
while  a  few  had  been  arrested  for  supposed  anti-slavery 


512  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

sentiments  even  before  that  event,  and  had  lived  in 
loathsome  dungeons  ever  since.  There  had  been  a 
reign  of  terror  in  the  Southern  States  preceding  the 
war,  as  well  as  after  the  opening  of  the  contest,  which 
differed  from  the  similar  terror  in  the  French  revolu- 
tion mainly  in  being  less  theatrical,  and  in  striking 
humbler  victims.  A  few  Northern  soldiers  were  here 
who  had  been  put  in  for  attempting  to  escape  or  for 
-other  breaches  of  prison  discipline.  Every  man  in  the 
room  had  some  kind  of  "  a  charge"  against  him.  These 
facts  were  not  calculated  to  strengthen  hopes  of  ex- 
change, or  even  weaken  fears  of  further  punishment. 

In  the  mean  time  breakfast  was  brought  in.  It 
consisted  of  a  small  quantity  of  thin  soup  and  a  very 
scanty  allowance  of  bread.  To  our  delight  the  latter 
was  made  of  wheat  flour  instead  of  corn-meal ;  and  all 
the  time  we  remained  in  Richmond  we  received  good 
bread,  though  it  was  very  deficient  in  quantity. 

While  we  were  talking  with  our  new  room-mates  an 
officer  again  entered,  and  inquired  for  the  men  who  had 
last  come  in.  We  responded  promptly,  for  hope  was 
again  whispering  in  our  hearts  that  probably  there  had 
been  some  mistake,  which  would  now  be  rectified,  and 
we  be  taken  up-stairs  again.  But  no  such  good  for- 
tune was  in  store, — rather  the  reverse.  We  were  taken 
out  of  doors,  where  a  guard  waited  to  remove  us  to  an- 
other prison.  Again  our  hearts  sank. 

We  crossed  the  street  and  marched  westward,  halt- 
ing at  a  desolate-looking  building,  a  few  hundred  yards 
from  Libby,  which  we  afterwards  learned  was  "  CAS- 
TLE THUNDER,"  the  far-famed  Bastile  of  the  South. 
Through  a  guarded  door  we  entered  a  reception-room 
and  waited  for  some  time.  In  this  interval  a  fierce- 
looking,  black-whiskered,  bustling  individual,  who  I 
afterwards  learned  was  Chillis,  the  prison  commissary, 
came  by  and,  looking  at  us,  exclaimed, — 

"  Bridge-burners,  are  they  ?  They  ought  to  hang, 
every  man  of  them ;  so  ought  everybody  who  does  any- 


LIBBY  AND  CASTLE  TU  UNDER. 

thing  against  the  Confederacy."  The  latter  proposi- 
tion, with  the  change  of  one  word,  precisely  suited  my 
own  feeling  then. 

Soon  we  were  ordered  up-stairs.  Up  we  went,  pass- 
ing by  a  room  filled  with  a  howling  and  yelling  mul- 
titude, who  made  such  an  outrageous  racket  that  I  was 
compelled  to  put  my  hands  to  my  ears.  A  score  of 
voices  brawled  with  all  the  power  of  their  lungs,  "  Fresh 
fish !  Fresh  fish !"  The  same  exclamations  greeted 
every  new  arrival. 

Here  we  were  searched,  as  usual,  to  see  if  we  had 
wny  thing  contraband,  or  rather,  anything  worth  taking 
from  us.  I  had  obtained  a  large  knife  in  Atlanta, 
which  I  managed  to  slip  up  my  sleeve,  and  by  care- 
fully turning  my  arm  when  they  felt  for  concealed 
weapons,  succeeded  in  keeping  it  out  of  the  way. 

The  examination  over,  I  supposed  they  would  put 
us  in  the  bedlam  we  had  just  passed.  They  did  no 
better,  for  we  were  put  into  a  stall  beside  the  large 
room.  I  use  the  word  "stall"  advisedly,  for  no  other 
is  so  appropriate.  It  was  one  of  a  range  partitioned 
off"  from  the  room  in  which  were  the  noisy  miscreants, 
and  from  each  other,  by  boards  nailed  to  the  upright 
timbers,  with  cracks  wide  enough  to  let  the  wind  circu- 
late freely  everywhere.  Most  of  the  windows  of  the 
large  room  were  out,  which  greatly  increased  the  cold. 
Our  stall  was  only  eight  or  nine  feet  wide,  and  perhaps 
sixteen  in  length.  It  was  perfectly  bare  of  furniture, 
— not  having  even  a  bench  or  any  means  of  making  a 
fire.  It  was  in  the  third  story,  and  had  one  redeeming 
quality, — it  commanded  a  view  of  the  street,  but  there 
was  a  guard  below,  who  had  orders  to  shoot  at  any 
head  that  might  be  protruded  from  the  window. 

In  this  cheerless  place  our  party  of  six,  with  nine 
Tennesseeans, — fifteen  in  all, — were  confined  during  the 
months  of  December  and  January.  The  first  day  our 
Bpirits  sank  lower  than  ever  before.  All  our  bright 
hopes  were  dashed  to  the  ground,  and  there  seemed 
o  27 


314  CAPTURING  A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

every  reason  to  believe  that  we  were  doomed  to  thii 
dreary  abode  for  the  whole  duration  of  the  war,  if,  in- 
deed, we  escaped  sharing  with  our  murdered  friends 
the  horrors  of  a  scaffold.  It  was  too  disheartening 
for  philosophy,  and  that  day  was  one  of  the  blackest 
gloom.  We  seldom  spoke,  and  when  we  did,  it  was 
to  denounce  our  own  folly  in  suffering  ourselves  to  be 
deluded  to  Richmond  by  falsehood.  I  cannot  say  at 
this  time  whether  the  false  declaration  concerning  the 
exchange  was  intended  to  deceive  or  was  only  the  re- 
sult of  some  misunderstanding;  but  then  we  had  no 
doubt  it  was  deliberate  treachery.  Not  being  able  to 
spare  enough  guards  to  make  us  secure,  we  felt  that 
they  had  deceived  us  to  this  terrible  prison,  which  we 
might  have  avoided  by  seizing  one  of  the  many  oppor- 
tunities for  escape  our  journey  afforded.  But  it  was  no 
use  lamenting ;  all  we  could  do  was  to  register  a  vow 
never  to  be  so  deceived  again.  One  resource  remained. 
It  was  my  turn  to  lead  our  devotions,  which  we  had 
continued  faithfully.  If  I  ever  prayed  with  fervor  it 
was  in  this  hour  of  disappointment  and  dread.  I  tried 
to  roll  our  cares  upon  the  Lord,  and  at  least  partly 
succeeded,  for  I  rose  from  my  knees  convinced  that  we 
had  oue  Friend  who  had  not  forsaken  us,  and  who  had 
often  made  His  children  rejoice  in  worse  situations  than 
oure.  The  next  morning  we  awoke  quite  cheerful  and 
nerved  for  any  fate  that  might  yet  be  in  store. 

The  routine  of  prison-life  here  differed  but  little 
from  that  in  Atlanta,  though  our  condition  was  far  less 
comfortable.  In  the  morning  we  were  taken  dcwn  to 
the  court  (the  building  was  square  and  built  with  an 
open  space  in  the  centre)  to  wash,  and  were  immedi- 
ately taken  back  to  our  stall  and  locked  up.  The  prin 
cipal  difference  arose  from  our  lack  of  fire.  No  othei 
physical  suffering  I  endured  in  the  whole  imprisonment 
was  more  intolerable  than  this  perpetual  freezing.  We 
had  no  opportunity  for  those  pleasant  fireside  chats 
which  had  done  so  much  to  make  our  days  endurable 


LIBBY   AND    CASTLE    THUNDER.  315 

in  the  Atlanta  barracks,  In  their  stead,  as  the  dark- 
ness and  coldness  of  night  drew  on,  we  were  compelled 
to  pace  the  floor,  trying  to  keep  warm  ;  and,  when  sleep 
became  a  necessity,  we  would  all  pile  down  in  a  huddle, 
as  pigs  sometimes  do,  and  spread  over  us  the  thin  pro- 
tection of  our  two  bits  of  carpet.  Thus  we  would  lie 
until  the  cold  could  be  endured  no  longer,  then  rise  and 
resume  our  walk.  When  the  weather  became  warmer 
than  usual  we  would  sleep  much,  to  make  up  for  wake 
fulness  during  the  colder  nights. 

We  never  omitted  our  public  prayers.  For  a  while 
the  crowd  outside  in  the  large  room,  which  was  com- 
posed of  the  very  scum  of  Southern  society,  such  as 
deserters  from  the  army,  gamblers,  and  cut-throats  from 
the  large  cities,  gave  us  all  the  annoyance  in  their 
power,  by  shouting  all  kinds  of  derisive  epithets  thrcugh 
the  cracks  in  the  board  partition  while  we  were  kneel- 
ing; but,  finding  their  efforts  ineffectual,  they  finally 
gave  over,  and  left  us  to  pursue  our  own  way  in  peace. 
We  found,  afterwards,  when,  for  a  short  time,  we  were 
put  in  with  them,  that  they  raspected  us  all  the  more 
for  our  perseverance. 

A  few  days  after  our  arrival  we  noticed  a  great  stir 
at  Libby  Prison,  which  was  in  plain  view.  A  truce- 
boat  had  arrived  at  the  place  of  exchange.  Soon  a 
body  of  prisoners  were  marched  up  the  street  by  us, 
and  our  four  Atlanta  companions  with  them.  As  they 
passed  by  they  waved  their  hands  to  us  in  farewell  and 
continued  their  journey  to  freedom.  They,  were  nol 
disappointed,  and,  as  I  have  since  learned,  they  were 
soon  .vith  their  friends  at  home.  The  representations 
made  at  Atlanta  were  true  as  regarded  these  four  men  ; 
the  falsehood  was  in  making  us  believe  that  we  stood 
on  t}iM  same  footing.  We  felt  glad  for  their  sakes ;  but 
the  parting,  to  us,  was  very  painful,  and  we  turned 
away  rrom  the  window  with  something  of  the  gloom 
that  Ldd  darkened  the  first  dav  ^>i  oi»  abode  in  this 


CAPTURING  A   LOCOMOTIVE 

One  great  privilege  we  had  here, — a  delightful  cash 
in  the  dead  sameness  that  settled  over  our  days.  This 
was  found  in  reading  the  daily  newspapers.  We  were 
not  now  forbidden  their  perusal,  and  some  one  hi  the 
large  room  had  always  money  enough  to  buy  a  paper 
and  charity  enough  to  lend  it.  As  soon  as  we  received 
i»,  all  the  party  would  gather  around  while  it  was  read 
aloud;  Each  item  of  importance  was  eagerly  discussed. 
The  news  was  often  exciting,  as  the  Union  commander/ 
Burnside,  had  just  made  an  advance,  and  we  breathed 
hearty  prayers  that  he  would  be  successful  in  reaching 
Richmond.  Probably  our  enemies  would,  in  that  case, 
try  to  remove  us  farther  South ;  but  we  had  firmh 
resolved  to  escape  in  such  a  contingency  or  die  in  tlit 
attempt.  We  would  not  allow  ourselves  again  to  bv 
moved  from  one  prison  to  another  without  risking 
everything  for  freedom. 

But  soon  came  the  sad  news  of  Burnside's  bloody 
repulse  at  Fredericksburg, — sad  to  us,  but  causing  the 
greatest  rejoicing  among  our  enemies,  who  felt  that 
they  had  escaped  a  great  danger.  If  Union  defeats 
diffused  gloom  throughout  the  whole  of  the  loyal  States, 
there  was  yet  no  place  where  they  were  so  regretfully 
and  bitterly  felt  as  in  Southern  prisons. 

Here  I  sold  the  hat  I  had  obtained  from  Commander 
Wells  in  Atlanta,  and  made  an  effort  to  invest  the 
money  in  books,  for  which  I  was  more  hungry  than  for 
bread.  But  the  volumes  I  wanted  were  not  to  be  found 
hi  Richmond.  Chillis,  the  cross  commissary  who  wished 
us  hung  on  our  first  arrival,  but  who  was,  nevertheless, 
the  kindest  official  in  the  prison,  made  the  effort  to  ob- 
tain them ;  but  when  he  failed,  we  took  instead  some 
very  small  cakes,  at  ten  cents  each.  These  were  a  great 
addition  to  our  rations  for  a  day  or  two. 

The  desire  to  escape  once  more  became  intense.  Be- 
ing in  the  third  story,  we  could  only  get  out  by  passing 
at  each  door  successive  relays  of  guards,  all  of  whom 
had  reserves  ready  to  co-operate  with  them  in  case  of 


LIBBT  AND    CASTLE   THUNDER.  3J? 

alarm.  Our  room  was  nearest  the  jailer's  office,  and  on 
the  other  side  there  ran  a  row  of  rooms  filled  with  all 
kinds  of  prisoners, — some  held  as  spies  and  others  aa 
murderers. 

The  nearest  of  these  rooms  to  our  own  was  occ'^pied 
by  Federal  soldiers  accused  of  various  oifeir«es.  Cap- 
tain Webster  was  one  of  these.  He  had  on  Oj£  occa- 
sion been  sent  to  capture  a  notorious  guerrilla  captain 
named  Simpson,  who  was  then  hiding  within  the  Union 
lines.  When  he  was  found,  Webster  summoned  him 
to  surrender.  Instead  of  doing  so  he  fired  his  pistol 
and  started  to  run,  but  Webster  also  fired  and  mortally 
wounded  him. 

When  Webster  was  afterwards  captured  by  the  Con- 
federates, he  was  charged  with  the  murder  of  Simpson, 
and  confined  in  the  room  next  our  own.  He  was  finally 
hanged,  but  in  the  official  report  the  offence  was  changed, 
in  a  manner  not  uncommon  with  Confederate  authori- 
ties, for  the  more  plausible  one  of  violating  his  parole. 

At  this  time  Webster  was  very  anxious  for  an  at- 
tempt at  escape.  A  plan  was  soon  arranged,  and  the 
evening  before  Christmas  selected  as  the  time.  The 
citizen  prisoners  in  the  room  below  were  more  favor- 
ably situated  than  ourselves  for  beginning  the  enter- 
prise. We  had  opened  secret  communications  with 
them,  and  the  ramifications  of  the  plot  reached  every 
room  in  the  prison.  The  signal  agreed  upon  was  the 
cry  of  "  fire !"  When  this  alarm — always  startling, 
but  doubly  so  in  a  crowded  prison — was  given,  we  were 
to  rush  upon  the  guards  and  overpower  them.  They 
only  numbered  about  thirty,  while  we  had  over  a  hun- 
dred and  fifty  men  in  the  plot.  After  capturing  the 
guard,  we  still  had  the  very  serious  task  of  getting  out 
of  the  guarded  and  fortified  city.  It  is  not  probable 
that  a  very  great  number  could  have  succeeded  in  doing 
this. 

That  Christmas-eve  was  not  much  like  Christmas  at 
home.  We  made  everything  ready,  and  anxiously 

27* 


CAPTURING   A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

waited  for  the  thrilling  alarm  of  "  fire !"  which  w« 
would  liave  echoed  at  the  top  of  our  voices,  and  then 
burst  off  the  door  of  our  stall  and  flung  ourselves  on 
the  guard.  I  had  no  doubt  that  we  could  thus  break 
open  the  strongest  prison  in  the  Confederacy ;  but  as  to 
any  large  number  escaping  to  the  Union  lines  I  was 
less  confident.  The  hours  rolled  on  and  midnight 
came, — the  hour  fixed  for  the  attack.  But  we  waited 
in  vain.  No  signal  was  given.  The  inmates  in  the 
room  below  had  failed  in  courage  at  the  critical  mo- 
ment and  resolved  to  postpone  the  attempt. 

Not  yet  discouraged,  we  determined  to  make  another 
trial  the  very  next  night.  Captain  Webster  was  ap- 
pointed leader,  as  we  felt  sure  that  he  would  not  falter. 
The  locks  were  taken  off  all  the  side  rooms  except 
ours,  which  was  so  near  the  station  of  the  guard  that 
it  could  not  be  removed  without  great  danger  of  dis- 
covery. We  cared  but  little  for  this.  A  long  board 
which  supported  our  water-bucket  afforded  a  convenient 
battering-ram,  with  which  we  felt  sure  of  being  able 
to  deal  with  our  door. 

Some  of  the  inmates  did  not  wish  to  run  the  fearful 
hazard,  but  were  very  kind  to  those  of  us  who  did, 
supplying  us  with  serviceable  shoes  and  taking  our 
worn-out  ones  in  return. 

Again  we  waited  for  the  signal.  Four  ot  us  held 
the  long  board,  and  felt  sure  that  one  blow  would  dash 
our  door  into  the  middle  of  the  room. 

The  other  small  rooms  were  soon  vacated,  the  move- 
ment being  concealed  from  the  observation  of  the  guards 
by  the  inmates  of  the  large  room,  into  which  all  the 
others  entered,  crowding  up  around  the  doors. 

For  an  instant  all  was  silent.  We  lifted  our  hearts 
in  mental  prayer  to  God  that  he  would  be  with  us  and 
preserve  us  through  the  coming  strife,  and  if  consistent 
with  his  high  will,  permit  us  to  regain  our  liberty. 

What  can  cause  the  delay  ?  Minute  after  minute 
passes,  and  the  dead  silence  is  broken  only  by  th* 


LIBRY  AND    CASTLE    THUNDER. 

throbbing  of  our  own  hearts.  We  have  com  ted  the 
cost,  and  are  ready  for  the  strife  which  shall  lead  us  to 
grapple,  with  naked  arms,  the  shining  bayonets  of  the 
guards.  Some  will  certainly  fall,  but  we  trust  that 
others  will  regain  the  unutterable  blessing  of  liberty. 

But  now  we  see  our  friends  creeping  back  to  their 
rooms!  We  grind  our  teeth  with  rage  and  chagrin, 
but  soon  hear  the  explanation,  which  makes  us  believe 
that  the  Lord  is  indeed  watching  over  us. 

Just  as  the  leader  was  ready  to  give  the  signal,  a 
friend  pressed  to  his  side  and  informed  him  that  we 
were  betrayed,  and  that  the  enemy  were  on  the  watch 
for  us.  From  a  window  in  the  far  corner  of  the  room 
a  force  of  at  least  eighty  men  could  be  seen  drawn  up 
before  the  prison-door.  The  story  continued  that  or- 
ders had  been  given  to  shoot  down  every  one  who  at- 
tempted to  escape,  while  another  detachment  was  to 
close  in  behind  and  make  an  indiscriminate  massacre. 
Had  we  carried  out  our  plan,  the  guard  would  have 
yielded  before  our  rush  until  we  had  been  fully 
drawn  into  the  trap,  when  they  hoped  to  make  such  a 
slaughter  as  would  be  a  perpetual  warning  to  prison- 
breakers. 

When  I  first  heard  this  account  I  thought  it  the  in- 
vention of  some  weak-nerved  individual  who  wished 
to  avoid  the  danger  of  our  scheme.  But  it  was  per- 
fectly true.  The  next  day  the  newspapers  of  Rich- 
mond contained  a  full  expose  of  the  whole  affair,  and 
Captain  Alexander,  the  tyrant  who  commanded  the 
prison,  threatened  to  have  every  one  engaged  in  it  tied 
up  and  whipped.  But  he  finally  changed  his  mind. 
A  nominal  prisoner,  who  was  really  a  spy  in  the  ser- 
vice of  the  authorities,  had  contrived  to  get  into  the 
plot,  and  had  reported  it  to  his  employers.  This  was 
the  last  attempt  at  prison-breaking  in  which  I  was  con- 
cerned. 

In  Richmond  there  was  a  pretence  of  allowing  pris- 
oners to  correspond  with  their  friends  in  the  North, — 


320  CAPTURING  A  LOCOMOTIVE. 

of  course,  subject  to  the  inspection  of  the  prison  official*. 
From  Libby  Prison  some  letters  did  go  safely.  We 
also  tried  writing,  making  our  expressions  very  guarded, 
but,  so  far  as  I  have  ever  heard,  none  of  our  corre- 
spondence was  forwarded  beyond  the  lines.  I  was 
providentially  afforded  a  better  opportunity.  Some  of 
the  prisoners  captured  at  the  battle  of  Murfreesborough 
were  brought  to  Richmond  for  exchange,  and  were 
kept  overnight  in  a  room  in  the  basement  of  Castle 
Thunder.  When  in  the  court  as  usual  in  the  morn- 
ing, I  asked  a  good-natured  Irishman  of  their  number 
if  he  would  carry  a  letter  and  mail  it  for  me  after  get- 
ting to  loyal  territory.  He  cheerfully  consented,  and 
I  pencilled  a  note  to  my  father  on  the  fly-leaf  of  a 
book  and,  watching  an  opportunity  when  unobserved, 
gave  it  to  him.  He  concealed  it  until  out  of  rebel 
power,  and  duly  committed  it  to  the  mail.  The  sensa- 
tion may  be  imagined  which  it  produced  among  my 
own  friends  and  those  of  other  members  of  the  party, 
as  nothiag  had  been  heard  from  us  since  the  October 
escape,  and  we  had  long  been  given  over  as  dead. 
Though  the  note  was  very  hastily  written,  I  copy  it 
here  without  change,  as  showing  the  feeling  experienced 
at  that  time.  Something  of  the  hopefulness  and  light- 
ness of  the  tone  resulted  from  the  wist  to  cheer  those 
addressed. 

"  RICHMOND,  VA.,  January  6,  1868. 

44  DEAR  FATHER, — I  take  this  opportunity  of  writing  by  a  pa- 
roled prisoner  to  let  you  know  that  I  am  well  and  doing  as  well 
as  could  be  expected.  I«have  seen  somi  rather  hard  times,  but 
the  worst  is  past.  Our  lives  are  now  safe,  but  we  will  be  kept 
during  the  war,  unless  something  lucky  turns  up  for  us.  There 
are  six  of  our  original  railroad  party  here  yet.  Seven  were  exe- 
cuted in  June,  and  eight  escaped  in  October. 

41 1  stand  the  imprisonment  pretty  well.  The  worst  of  it  is  to 
hear  of  our  men  [this  refers  to  the  Union  army]  getting  whipped 
10  often.  I  hear  all  the  news  here :  read  three  or  four  papers  a 
day.  I  even  know  that  Bingham  was  beat  in  the  last  election, 
for  which  I  am  very  sorry. 

44  The  price  of  everything  here  is  awful.  It  cost*  thirty  cent* 
to  send  a  letter.  This  will  account  for  my  not  writing  to  all  my 


L1EBY  AND    CASTLE   THUNDER.  32A 

friends !     Give  my  sincere  love  to  them,  and  tell  them  to  write 
to  me. 

"  You  may  write  by  leaving  the  letter  unsealed,  putting  in 
oathing  that  will  offend  the  Secesh,  and  directing  to  Castle 
Thunder,  Va.  I  want  to  know  the  private  news, — how  many 
of  my  frier  ds  have  fallen.  Also  tell  me  who  has  been  drafted 
in  our  neighborhood,  who  married,  and  who  like  to  be.  Also. 
if  you  have  a  gold  dollar  at  hand,  slip  it  into  the  letter, — not 
more,  as  it  might  tempt  the  Secesh  to  hook  it.  I  have  tried  to 
send  word  through  to  you  several  times,  but  there  is  now  a  bet- 
ter chance  of  communicating  since  we  came  from  Atlanta  to 
Richmond. 

"  No  doubt  you  would  all  like  to  see  me  again,  but  let  us  have 
patience.  Many  a  better  man  than  I  am  has  suffered  more,  and 
many  parents  are  mourning  for  their  children  without  the  hope 
if  seeing  them  again.  So  keep  your  courage  up,  and  do  not  be 
uneasy  about  me.  Write  as  soon  as  you  can,  and  tell  all  mv 
'riends  to  do  the  same. 

"  Ever  yours, 

"WILLIAM  PITTKNOIR. 

"  To  THOMAS  PITTBNGEB, 

"New  Somerset,  Jefferson  Co.,  Ohio." 

The  belief  expressed  in  the  above  letter  of  imprison- 
ment during  the  war  was  thought  by  the  writer  to  be 
most  probable.  No  word  was  spoken  either  of  ex- 
cnange  or  of  court-martial.  The  prices  referred  to 
were  in  Confederate  money,  which  was  now  greatly 
depreciated.  The  little  we  had  brought  from  Atlanta 
rapidly  melted  away,  procuring  us  very  little  addition 
to  our  meagre  fare.  We  still  hoped  for  great  Union 
victories  and  a  speedy  termination  of  the  war.  But  at 
the  opening  of  the  year  1863  the  prospect  was  dark 
indeed. 

About  the  1st  of  February  the  range  of  side  rooms 
in  which  we  were  confined  was  wanted  for  1  ospital 
purposes.  The  prison  hospital  had  been  loa.ted  in 
the  garret  above,  but  disease  increased  to  such  an  ex- 
tent that  its  accommodations  were  no  longer  sufficient. 
riie.se  chill  and  comfortless  rooms  had  but  little  adap- 
tation to  their  new  purpose,  and  hastened  the  release 
)f  many  a  poor  unfortunate  by  the  mercy  of  death.  Dis- 
ase  was  now  making  fearful  havoc.  The  hardships 


322  CAPTURING  A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

of  jxrison-life  and  the  starvation  diet  prepared  the 
for  every  contagion.  Smallpox  broke  out,  and  pre» 
vailed  to  such  an  extent  that  the  whole  town  wai 
alarmed.  The  prisoners  were  vaccinated  by  the  whole- 
sale, but  this  necessary  precaution  caused  great  addi- 
tional suffering.  Men  died  in  every  room,  and  th€ 
visiting  physician  came  each  morning  to  remove  to  tli€ 
hospitals  those  who  showed  marks  of  the  dreaded  pes- 
tilence. It  would  scarcely  be  believed  that  some  pris- 
oners actually  counterfeited  smallpox  in  order  to  be 
sent  to  the  smallpox  hospital,  where  they  would  have 
a  better  opportunity  for  escape.  But  escaping  had  be- 
come a  regular  mania,  and  all  possible  means  were 
employed  to  effect  it. 

No  one  of  our  party  of  six  took  the  pestilence, 
though  two  suffered  very  severely  from  the  vaccine 
virus.  But  the  prevalence  of  disease  did  us  a  good 
service  in  securing  our  removal  from  the  narrow  stall 
to  the  comparative  freedom  of  the  room  outside. 

This  was  a  great  change,  and  did  seem  like  freedom 
by  contrast.  From  this  time  the  isolation  of  our  prison- 
life  was  at  an  end.  I  have  spoken  of  the  "  room,"  but 
the  term  is  scarcely  accurate.  The  partitions  had  been 
taken  out  or  never  inserted  in  this  upper  floor,  and  the 
prisoners  could  go  from  one  end  of  the  building  to  the 
other,  but  with  guards  stationed  at  every  door  and 
watching  every  window  outside.  In  a  far  corner  there 
was  a  stove, — the  first  fire  we  had  felt  since  leaving 
Libby  two  months  before.  It  did  not  suffice  to  warm 
half  the  people  around  it,  and  these  were  very  quarrel- 
some, but  it  was  a  great  luxury  to  be  occasionally  warm. 

The  amusements  of  the  hundreds  who  had  beec 
gathered  into  this  receptacle  of  humanity  were  very 
striking,  if  not  elegant.  When  a  dense  crowd  had 
gathered  around  the  stove,  some  person  outside — 
usually  one  of  a  large  group  of  very  mischievous  Irish- 
men— would  cry,  "  Char-rge,  me  boys  1"  and  a  solid 
column  of  perhaps  fifty  men  would  rush  against  the 


LIBBY   AND   CASTLE    THUNDER.  328 

gi  iup  around  the  stove,  knocking  men  in  all  directions, 
en>  (angering  limbs,  and  raising  a  perfect  storm  of  pro- 
fanity. Fights  were  very  frequent,  and  it  only  needed 
the  addition  of  intoxicating  liquor  to  make  the  place  a 
perfect  pandemonium.  As  it  was,  the  interference  of 
the  guard  was  often  required  to  preserve  order.  Our 
paity,  however,  always  stood  together,  and  were  thus 
able  to  protect  themselves. 

'ITie  evenings  were  a  compensation  for  the  turmoil 
and  quarrelling  of  the  day.  After  all  who  pos- 
sessed blankets  had  rolled  themselves  up  and  laid 
down  to  rest  on  the  floor,  some  of  the  worst  rowdies, 
who  had  been  annoying  and  persecuting  their  fellow- 
prisoners  all  day,  would  gather  around  the  stove  and 
appear  in  a  new  character, — that  of  story-tellers.  Old 
Irish  legends,  and  some  of  the  finest  fairy-tales  to 
which  I  have  ever  listened,  were  brought  forth,  and 
the  greater  part  of  the  night  was  often  passed  in  such 
discourse.  But  the  approach  of  day  put  an  end  to  the 
romantic  disposition  of  these  rude  bards  and  left  them 
ill  ruffians  as  before. 

We  soon  wearied  of  this  perpetual  ferment  and  ex- 
citement, and  learning  that,  there  was  one  room  in  the 
prison  occupied  principally  by  Union  men,  petitioned 
to  be  placed,  with  them.  To  our  surprise  this  request 
was  granted,  and  we  were  taken  down  to  the  ground 
floor,  aud  placed  in  a  large,  dingy  room  on  the  level 
of  the  street.  The  windows  were  not  only  secured  by 
crossing  bars,  but  additionally  darkened  by  fine  woven 
wire.  The  refuse  tobacco-stems — the  building  was  an 
old  tobacco  manufactory — had  been  thrown  into  this 
room,  and  were  now  gathered  into  a  great  heap  in  one 
corner,  occupying  more  than  a  fourth  part  of  the  entire 
apartment  This  filthy  stuff — for  such  it  was,  having 
been  trodden  underfoot  for  years — was  not  without  its 
uses  for  the  tobacco-lovers  of  the  party. 

But  this  dungeon  had  ample  compensations  for  its 
darkness  and  dinginess.  It  contained  a  stove,  and  waa 


•J24  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

kept  quite  warm.  Thus  the  terrible  suffering  from 
cold  was  now  ended.  There  was  also  good  society 
here, — nearly  a  hundred  Union  men  from  different 
parts  of  the  South, — all  intensely  patriotic,  and  many 
of  them  possessing  great  intelligence,  The  rude,  wild 
element  which  dominated  in  the  third  floor  was  in 
complete  subordination  on  the  first. 

It  would  be  easy  to  fill  a  volume  with  stories  told 
us  by  the  loyal  citizens  confined  in  this  room.  One 
or  two  may  serve  as  specimens.  I  became  very  in- 
amate  with  a  Scotchman  named  Miller,  from  Texas. 
He  told  me  of  the  beginning  of  the  reign  of  terror, 
which  prepared  the  way  for  secession.  The  rumor, 
in  Miller's  neighborhood,  was  first  spread  of  an  in- 
tended slave  insurrection.  Weapons,  and  in  some  cases 
poison,  were  secreted,  to  be  afterwards  found  at  the 
right  time.  Some  slaves  were  next  whipped  until, 
under  the  torture,  they  would  confess  to  the  intended 
insurrection,  and  implicate  the  most  prominent  oppo- 
nents of  secession.  This  was  enough  to  drive  the 
populace  to  madness.  The  fear  of  servile  insurrections 
has  always  aroused  the  worst  passions  of  slaveholding 
countries.  Slaves  and  white  Unionist  were  now  hung 
up  to  the  same  trees,  and  the  work  went  on  until  all 
who  opposed  the  withdrawal  of  the  State  from  the  old 
Union  were  treated  as  criminals.  It  is  not  strange  that 
slavery  thus  furnished  the  means  as  well  as  the  occasion 
of  rebellion. 

Miller,  being  an  outspoken  opponent  of  secession,  was 
seized,  and  sent  eastward,  accused  of  treason  against  the 
Confederacy.  Twice  he  made  his  escape,  and  when  re- 
captured told,  each  time,  a  different  story.  At  Rich- 
mond, when  brought  up  for  examination,  he  merely 
said,  "  I  told  you  all  about  my  case  before."  The  ex- 
aining  officer,  who  was  very  busy  and  a  little  in  liquor, 
took  him  at  his  word  and  ordered  him  back  to  prison. 
At  length  he  was  included  with  many  others  in  a  special 
exchange. 


L1BBY  AND    CASTLE    THUKDKR.  326 

A  few  Union  so  diers,  besides  ourselves,  weie  in  this, 
room.  There  was  a  young  and  adventurous  scout  from 
'he  Potomac  army,  Charlie  Marsh  by  name,  who  had 
been  sent  a  short  distance  inside  the  rebel  lines  to 
burn  an  important  bridge.  While  on  his  way,  with  a 
gray  coat — the  rebel  color — thrown  over  his  own  uni- 
form, he  managed  to  get  some  important  information 
regarding  the  enemy,  which  he  committed  to  writing. 
In  this  perilous  position  he  was  captured,  and  the 
papers,  which  he  was  not  able  to  destroy,  determined 
his  character  as  a  spy.  A  drum-head  court-martial 
convicted  him,  and  he  was  sent  with  a  strong  guard  to 
Richmond  for  execution.  While  on  the  way  the  ser- 
geant in  charge  got  an  opportunity  to  drink,  and  soon 
became  very  careless.  Marsh  could  not  escape;  but, 
watching  his  chance,  slipped  from  the  sergeant's  pocket 
the  package  containing  the  report  of  the  trial  and  sen- 
tence, and  dropped  them,  unobserved,  into  a  ditch  by 
the  wayside. 

When  he  arrived  in  Richmond,  the  sergeant  could 
give  the  prison  authorities  no  information  further  than 
that  his  prisoner  was  a  Yankee  he  had  been  told  to 
l^ing  to  them.  The  drunkard  was  reprimanded,  and 
the  authorities  sent  back  to  the  army  for  the  missing 
information.  Pending  its  arrival,  Marsh  was  put  into 
our  room,  instead  of  being  confined  separately  and  se- 
curely, as  would  have  been  the  case  if  his  sentence  had 
been  known.  When  the  evidence  against  him  arrived, 
the  commanding  officer  entered  the  room  with  a  guard 
and  called  his  name.  This  was  Charlie's  last  chance 
for  life,' and  shrewdly  was  it  improved!  A  man  had 
died  in  the  prison  the  night  before,  and  the  body  had 
not  yet  been  removed.  Charlie  promptly  responded, 
" Oh,  that  fellow  is  dead?"  pointing  to  the  corpse. 

"  I)ied,  has  he  ?  the  rascal !  We'd  'a  hung  him  this 
week  and  saved  him  the  trouble  if  he  had  only  held 
on/'  growled  the  officer. 

No  prisoner  felt  called  uppn  to  expose  the  deception, 


326  CArruiuxu  A  LOCOMOTIVE. 

and  the  officer  departed  and  reported  accordingly 
Marsh  continued  to  answer  whenever  the  dead  man's 
name  was  called,  and  was  finally  exchanged  in  his 
place.  I  once  met  him  since  the  close  of  the  war.  He 
was  then  in  congenial  employment  as  a  government 
detective. 


CHAPTER   XXL 

SICKNESS    AND    LIBERTY. 

IN  February  the  attempt  was  made  to  persuade  the 
Union  men  of  our  prison  room  to  enlist  in  the  rebel 
army.  Over  twenty  recruits  were  obtained.  Tlu-y 
were  loyal  in  heart  to  the  old  government,  but  so  worn 
down  and  dispirited  by  suffering  that  they  could  resist 
no  longer.  The  refusal  of  the  remainder  to  take  the 
same  step  seemed  to  exasperate  the  prison  officials,  and 
new  hardships  were  devised  for  us.  Captain  Alexan- 
der, the  tyrant  who  had  charge  of  the  prison,  issued  ar, 
order  for  taking  out  a  working-party  to  perform  menial 
service  each  day.  At  first  volunteers  were  called  for, 
and  the  desire  to  be  in  the  open  air  was  so  great  that 
they  were  readily  obtained,  notwithstanding  the  condi- 
tions of  the  work  were  far  from  being  pleasant.  As 
soon  as  no  more  volunteers  offered,  a  list  was  prepared, 
and  a  certain  number  of  the  names  called  daily  for 
service.  This  was  putting  the  matter  in  another  light. 
One  of  the  first  called  was  a  frank,  brave  Tennesseean 
named  McCoy.  He  in-wered  boldly,  "  I'm  not  going." 

"  What's  the  matter  now  ?"  demanded  the  officer  whc 
was  calling  the  list. 

"  I  didn't  come  here  to  work,  and  if  you  can't  board 
me  without,  you  may  send  me  home,"  replied  the  fear- 
less man. 

"Well!    weiM     You'll    be   attended    to,"    growl*'' 


SICKNESS  AND   LIBERTY.  327 

he  officer,  and  proceeded  with  the  roll.  Four  others 
>n  the  list  likewise  refused.  In  a  short  time  a  guard 
entered  the  room  and  seized  them.  We  feared  that  one 
of  the  terrible  floggings,  whicli  were  only  too  common 
in  the  case  of  prison  insubordination,  was  going  to  take 
place.  But  another  mode  of  punishment  was  devised. 
The  four  were  taken  before  Captain  Alexander,  who 
ordered  them  to  "  the  cell."  This  was  a  windowless 
pkce,  beside  the  open  court,  only  about  four  feet  wide 
by  six  or  seven  in  length.  It  had  no  floor  but  the 
damp  earth,  and  was  dark  at  mid-day.  They  were 
informed  that  they  should  remain  here  until  they  con- 
sented to  work. 

We  found  another  alternative  for  them.  There  was 
a  piece  of  file  and  a  scrap  of  stove-pipe  in  our  room, 
which  we  secro«ed,  and,  buying  a  piece  of  candle  from 
the  commissary,  found  an  opportunity,  when  taken  to 
wash  in  the  prison-court,  of  slipping  the  articles  into 
the  cell.  Thus  provided,  our  friends  began  to  dig  their 
way  out  under  the  wall.  All  day  and  night  they 
worked,  but  did  not  get  through.  We  furnished  an- 
other candle  and  they  worked  on.  Towards  morning 
of  the  second  night  they  broke  upward  through  the 
crust  of  the  ground  outside  of  the  wall.  The  foremost 
wormed  his  way  out  and  glided  off.  He  was  never 
heard  of  afterwards,  and,  I  presume,  reached  the  Union 
army.  The  next  man  was  just  under  the  wall,  when 
the  barking  of  a  dog  that  happened  to  be  prowling 
around  drew  the  attention  of  the  guard  that  way,  and 
the  hole  was  closed.  This  incident  prevented  the  con- 
finement of  any  others  in  the  cell. 

Yet  the  attempt  to  secure  workers  from  the  prison 
was  not  given  up.  I  happened  to  be  on  the  next  list 
prepared.  To  work  with  a  guard  carrying  a  musket 
to  enforce  obedience  did  not  seem  to  me  a  part  of  my 
business  as  a  United  States  soldier.  Carefully  counting 
the  cost,  I  determined  to  go  any  length  in  resistance. 

On  our  refusal,  we  were  ordered  into  the  jail-yard, 


3'2S  CAPTURING  A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

It  was  a  very  cold,  windy  day  in  February,  wit*. 
abundant  rain.  We  were  nearly  naked,  having  only 
the  remnant  of  the  rags  that  had  already  outserved 
their  time.  The  bottorm.  were  out  of  my  shoes,  and 
the  water  stood  in  the  yard  several  inches  deep.  The 
yard  itself  was  only  a  vacant  corner  in  the  building 
inclosed  by  high  brick  walls,  on  the  top  of  which 
guards  walked.  The  cold,  wet  wind  swept  down  with 
biting  sharpness,  and  almost  robbed  us  of  sensation. 
We  paoed  the  narrow  bounds,  through  the  mud  and 
water,  until  too  weary  to  walk  any  more,  and  then  re- 
signed ourselves  to  our  misery.  If  this  exposure  had 
come  earlier,  when  we  were  accustomed  to  the  endur- 
ance of  cold,  it  might  have  been  less  serious.  But  for 
several  weeks  we  had  been  in  a  close,  warm  room,  and 
the  contrast  was  almost  unbearable. 

Here  we  remained  from  early  in  the  morning  until 
nearly  dark  in  the  evening.  They  told  us  we  would 
have  to  stay  there  till  we  agreed  to  work  or  froze  to 
death  !  The  first  we  had  resolved  never  to  do.  The 
latter  seemed  only  too  probable.  I  do  not  think  any 
of  us  could  have  survived  the  night.  We  resolved  as 
soon  as  it  was  fairly  dark  to  scale  the  wall  and  seek 
our  own  deliverance,  feeling  that  it  could  not  be  worse 
to  die  by  the  bullet  than  by  exposure. 

But  we  had  help  from  an  unexpected  source.  The 
old  commissary,  Chillis,  had  come  out  of  his  room, 
which  was  near  by,  several  times  during  the  day  to 
observe  us,  and  each  time  went  away  muttering  and 
grumbling.  We  thought  he  enjoyed  our  suffering,  but 
were  greatly  mistaken.  In  the  evening  he  went  to 
Captain  Alexander  and  remonstrated  with  him  in  the 
strongest  terms.  Said  he, — 

"  If  you  want  to  kill  the  men,  do  it  at  once  !  The 
rascals  deserve  it.  Hanging  is  the  best  way.  But 
don't  leave  them  out  there  to  die  by  inches,  for  it  will 
disgrace  us  all  over  the  world." 

His  remonstrance  was  heeded,  and  we  were  remanded 


SICA'NESS  AND    LIBERTY.  329 

oaek  to  our  room,  which,  with  its  warm  fire,  nevei 
seemed  more  agreeable.  We  soon  sank  into  a  pleasant 
stupor,  from  which  all  awoke  very  ill.  One  poor  fel- 
low died  within  a  few  hours,  and  several  more  after  a 
short  interval.  1  was  the  only  one  of  our  railroad 
party  who  had  been  thus  exposed.  That  day  of  freez- 
ing does  not  seem  a  worse  hardship  than  many  endured 
previously,  but  coming  when  already  enfeebled,  it  was 
far  more  injurious.  Pneumonia  followed,  and  when  I 
grew  better  a  distressing  cough  continued,  which  has 
never  left  me.  Ever  since  I  have  been  a  confirmed 
invalid.  But  the  attempt  to  make  us  work  was  relin- 
quished. 

One  day  we  were  summoned  into  line,  and  the  names 
of  our  railroad  party,  with  a  few  others,  called  over. 
One  of  the  prisoners  who  had  not  been  called,  asked 
the  reason  of  the  omission.  The  officer  replied, — 

"We  can't  tell,  for  this  list  came  from  Yankee- 
land." 

This  speech  set  wild  conjectures  afloat.  Why  should 
a  list  be  sent  from  the  North  ?  Was  it  for  the  purpose 
of  exchange?  Had  the  Federal  government  made 
some  arrangement  at  last  which  applied  especially  to 
us,  and  not  to  the  mass  of  Union  men  in  the  prison? 
We  could  not  tell,  but  it  was  pleasant  to  believe  that 
we  were  not  utterly  forgotten. 

It  was  soon  discovered  that  a  special  exchange  of 
political  prisoners — prisoners  whose  offences  were  of  a 
civil  and  not  a  military  character — was  in  contempla- 
tion. Soldiers  were  being  exchanged  frequently  from 
the  Libby  on  the  other  side  of  the  way,  but  it  had 
seemed  as  if  we  were  altogether  forsaken.  Now  the 
rumor  was  current  that  a  large  number  on  each  side 
who  were  held  for  various  offences  were  to  be  massed 
into  one  general  exchange,  and  the  including  of  our 
names  in  a  list  sent  from  the  loved  loyal  States  was 
sufficient  fuel  to  rekindle  the  almost  extinct  fire  of 
hope. 

28* 


530  CAPTURING  A   LOCOMOTIVE. 

But  the  delay  was  long,  and  we  grew  very  weary  oi 
waiting.  Truce-boat  after  truce-boat  went  off,  and 
week  after  week  slid  away,  leaving  us  still  in  our  dark 
and  irksome  prison.  So  completely  did  this  damp  our 
hopes  that  if  any  one  referred  to  exchange  he  was 
laughed  into  silence. 

One  day,  however,  we  received  a  most  welcome  token 
of  governmental  remembrance.  An  officer  bustled 
into  the  prison  and  asked  for  the  name  of  every  one 
there  who  claimed  United  States  protection.  There 
was  a  general  rush  towards  him,  for,  although  we  did 
not  know  how  our  government  could  protect  us  while 
in  rebel  hands,  we  were  resolved  not  to  lose  anything 
for  want  of  claiming  it.  It  then  transpired  that  the 
authorities  at  Washington,  in  order  to  relieve  the  suf- 
ferings of  the  Richmond  prisoners,  had  offered  to  fur- 
nish a  supply  of  clothing  for  them.  The  offer  \\oe> 
iccepted,  and  some  of  the  clothing  reached  its  destina- 
tion,— not  nearly  all,  as  I  judge  from  comparing  the 
accounts  given  on  the  opposite  sides  of  the  line.  My 
own  portion  was  a  pair  of  boots,  which  were  sorely 
needed.  We  did  not  obtain  a  complete  supply,  but 
"what  we  did  get  was  very  grateful,  as  a  token  that  we 
svere  not  forgotten,  but  that  a  great  nation  still  cared 
(or  us. 

I  have  said  but  little  for  some  time  past  of  our  re- 
ligious exercises.  It  must  not  be  inferred  that  we  had 
lost  the  zeal  enkindled  during  the  dark  hours  in  At- 
lanta.  Up-stairs  we  continued  to  pray,  sing,  and  re- 
peat Bible  lessons  morning  and  evening.  When  we 
lirst  came  into  the  room  below,  where  we  were  strangers, 
and  where  the  whole  current  of  opinion  seemed  utterly 
irreligious,  I  did  feel  as  if  it  would  be  impassible  for 
us  in  the  common  room  to  worship  publicly  as  before. 
At  the  arrival  of  the  usual  hour  I  was  sorely  per- 
plexed, and  almost  persuaded  to  wait  a  day  or  two  for 
better  acquaintance  wit!)  our  new  room-mates.  But 
the  matter  was  settled  providentially  for  us.  Mr 


SICKNESS   AND    LIRKRTY.  33] 

Pierce,  who  had  accompanied  us  all  the  way  from 
Knoxville,  and  who  was  very  profane  in  speech,  had 
never  shown  any  interest  in  our  prayers  beyond  re- 
maining silent  when  we  were  thus  employed.  But  now 
he  stepped  on  a  box,  and  calling  and  stamping  until  he 
had  the  attention  of  everybody  in  the  room,  he  said, — 

"  I  have  a  matter  to  propose  for  our  general  interest. 
We  have  some  preachers  with  us  who  are  accustomed 
to  sing  and  pray  and  read  the  Bible  every  morning  and 
evening.  Now,  I  am  wicked  enough  myself,  but  I 
like  to  I  ave  something  good  going  on  ;  so  I  propose 
that  we  invite  them  to  go  ahead  as  they  have  done  in 
>ther  prisons.  All  that  favor  the  motion  say  '  aye !'  " 

The  response  was  most  hearty.  In  a  prison  a  propo- 
rtion for  anything  which  will  break  the  monotony  for 
even  a  little  time  is  sure  of  favor.  No  one  voted  in 
the  negative,  and  Pierce,  turning  to  me,  said,  "  Go 
ahead.'1 

There  were  no  preachers  in  our  party,  but,  under 
such  circumstances,  we  gladly  embraced  the  providen- 
tial opportunity.  The  majority  of  the  prisoners  gath- 
ered around  in  respectful  silence,  and  seemed  greatly 
pleased  to  hear,  in  that  gloomy  place,  the  voice  of 
prayer  and  sacred  song.  Even  the  guards  drew  near 
the  open  door,  and  stood  in  reverent  attention.  But  a 
small  company  of  the  more  reckless  of  the  prisoners 
regarded  the  whole  matter  in  the  light  of  a  burlesque. 
One  I  especially  noticed,  who  seemed  to  be  their  leader. 
He  was  quite  young,  had  a  confident  bearing,  and  ut- 
tered great  oaths  on  the  smallest  occasion.  He  watched 
us  without  making  any  disturbance  while  we  read  and 
sang,  but,  when  we  knelt  for  prayer,  he  knelt  too,  and 
became  very  noisy  in  his  mock  devotions,  responding 
"amen"  with  more  than  Methodistic  fervor  and  at  the 
most  inopportune  places.  This  we  endured  patiently 
for  that  evening,  but  I  resolved  to  win  him  over,  feel- 
ing sure  that  we  would  thus  do  good  and  secure  our- 
selves from  interruption.  On  the  next  day  I  managed 


332  CAPTURING  A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

to  get  into  conversation  with  him,  told  him  the  story 
of  our  adventures,  which  always  commanded  attention, 
and  asked  the  reason  of  his  imprisonment.  He  gave 
the  story,  and  I  afterwards  asked  after  his  friends  in 
his  far-off  Canadian  home.  He  told  me  that  he  had 
no  near  relatives  except  a  sister,  and  his  blue  eyes  filled 
with  tears  as  he  spoke  of  his  longing  to  see  her  once 
more.  There  were  no  interruptions  to  our  evening 
service;  and  I  learned  that  my  friend  had  taken  occa- 
sion to  say  that  those  Ohioans  were  good  fellows,  and 
that  anybody  who  disturbed  them  would  have  to  reckon 
with  him.  A  number  of  other  religious  persons  made 
themselves  known  when  the  way  was  thus  open,  though 
each  one  had  supposed  himself  alone  before.  We  formed 
quite  a  church  when  all  assembled,  though  there  was  a 
great  mixture  of  creeds,  a  Roman  Catholic  being  one 
of  the  most  devoted  of  the  number. 

A  day  now  approached  that  had  been  longed  for 
ever  since  we  first  tasted  the  bitter  cup  of  captivity, — a 
day  which  yet  shines  golden  and  glorious  in  the  light 
of  memory, — a  day  which  I  never  recall  without  a 
mental  ejaculation  of  thanksgiving  to  Almighty  God. 
To  have  assured  its  coming  I  would  at  any  time  during 
the  preceding  eleven  months  have  unshrinkingly  sacri- 
ficed my  right  hand  ! 

On  the  evening  of  the  17th  of  March,  1863,  when 
we  were  sitting  around  the  stove,  discussing  quietly 
but  not  indifferently  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  an  officer 
stepped  within  the  door  and  shouted  the  strange  order, 
"All  who  want  to  go  to  the  United  States  come  to  the 
office!" 

No  more  plans  were  laid  for  capturing  Vicksburg 
that  night !  We  thought  we  were  in  the  United  States 
all  the  while,  but  had  no  objection  to  be  still  more  so, 
and  at  once  fell  into  line,  and  walked  out,  between  two 
files  of  soldiers,  to  the  office.  It  seemed  like  a  dream. 
For  a  moment  a  delicious  hope  thrilled  through  my 
"im, — a  vision  of  happiness  and  home,  dazzling  as  t 


SICKNESS  AND   LIBERTY. 

fla«h  of  summer  lightning, — but  it  instantly  faded 
before  the  remembrance  of  the  manner  in  which  wt 
hail  been  deceived  in  Atlanta.  I  did  not  doubt  that  ai. 
exchange  had  been  arranged  for  some  of  the  inmates 
of  our  room,  but  feared  that  the  good  fortune  would 
not  reach  so  far  as  our  proscribed  band.  The  oath  of 
parole,  binding  each  man  not  to  serve  against  the  Con- 
federacy until  regularly  exchanged,  was  being  signed 
as  fast  as  the  names  could  be  written  and  the  oath  ad- 
ministered. To  end  the  suspense,  I  pressed  forward 
gave  my  name,  and  held  my  breath,  while  fully  ex- 
pecting to  hear  "  The  engine  thieves  can't  go/' — but  DO 
objection  was  made.  I  wrote  my  name,  and  watched 
each  of  my  five  comrades  do  the  same,  with  growing 
hope,  as  still  no  objection  was  made.  Then  came  the 
remembrance  that  our  names  were  the  first  on  the  list, 
read  a  few  days  before,  which,  as  we  had  been  told, 
cxime  from  "  Yankee-land," — and  I  suspected,  what  1 
afterwards  learned  to  be  the  fact, — that  our  government, 
in  arranging  this  exchange,  had  specially  stipulated  that 
we  should  be  included.  Although  a  sickening  fear 
would  still  intrude  itself  now  and  then,  there  was  really 
no  reason  to  doubt  that  all  the  preliminaries  of  our 
exchange  were  actually  arranged. 

When  all  the  prisoners  had  signed  the  papers  we 
were  ordered  to  return  to  our  room,  and  be  ready  to 
start  for  the  North  at  four  o'clock  next  morning.  We 
could  have  been  ready  in  four  seconds!  but  we  really 
needed  the  quiet  night  hours  to  realize  the  full  magni- 
tude of  our  deliverance.  The  wild  excitement  of  that 
evening  can  never  be  fully  described.  The  majority 
of  paroled  men  acted  as  if  bereft  of  reason.  The  joy- 
ousness  of  some  found  vent  in  vociferous  shouts, — in 
dancing  and  bounding  over  the  floor, — in  embracing 
each  other,  and  in  pledging  kind  remembrances.  Some 
.seemed  stupefied  by  their  good  fortune,  others  sat  down 
and  wept  in  silence,  and  still  others  laughed  for  minutes 
t/ogether  But  in  the  room  there  were  a  few  not  per- 


334  CAPTURING    A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

mitted  to  go,  and  my  heart  bled  for  them.  I  remem- 
bered the  hour  when  \ve  had  been  left  by  our  comrades 
on  first  arriving  in  Richmond,  and  now  these  friends 
sat  cheerless  and  alone,  seeming  more  wretched  than 
ever  amid  the  general  joy. 

But  there  was  one  expression  of  joy  which  it  would 
have  been  the  basest  ingratitude  for  us  to  omit.  It  was 
near  midnight  before  we  became  calm  enough  to  offer 
up  our  usual  evening  devotions.  But  when  all  were 
wearied  out  by  the  very  excess  of  joy,  when  the  quiet- 
ness which  ever  follows  overwhelming  emotion  had  set- 
tled upon  us,  we  knelt  in  prayer, — a  prayer  of  deep, 
strong,  fervent  thankfulness.  We  implored  that  we 
might  not  be  deceived  in  our  vivid  hopes  and  dashed 
back  from  our  anticipated  paradise.  Yet,  if  such  should 
be  God's  mysterious  will,  and  we  should  see  these  hopes 
fade,  as  others  had  faded  before  them,  we  asked  for 
strength  to  bear  the  trial.  Then,  with  solemn  trust, 
we  tried  to  commit  the  whole  matter  to  the  wisdom  and 
the  mercy  of  God,  and  lay  down  to  sleep,  if  we  could, 
and  to  await  the  event. 

Few  eyes  closed  during  the  entire  night.  Fancy  was 
too  busy  peopling  her  fairy  landscapes, — picturing  the 
groups  that  awaited  us,  beyond  that  boundary  which 
for  nearly  a  year  seemed  to  us  as  impassable  as  the 
river  of  death.  But  even  as  we  muse  we  find  that 
hope  is  not  the  only  painter  at  work.  What  unbidden 
fears  spring  up  to  darken  the  prospect  and  stain  the 
brightness  of  our  joy !  How  many  of  those  dear  friends 
we  were  hoping  to  meet  may  now  l>e  no  more !  For  a 
year  not  a  whisper  from  them  has  reached  us, — no  let- 
ter or  message  from  any  friend,  and  we  tremble  as  we 
think  of  the  ravages  of  time  and  of  battle.  These  and 
a  hundred  other  thoughts  whirled  through  our  brains 
during  that  ever-memorable  night.  It  seemed  but  a 
few  moments  after  lying  down  until  we  heard  the  voice 
of  an  officer,  who  stood  by  the  open  door,  and  gave  the 
thrilling  order  to — prepare  for  our  journey  1 


SICK Jf ESS   AND   LIBERTY.  335 

Hurriedly  we  thronged  to  our  feet.  -  It  was  yet  long 
before  daylight,  but  the  guard  were  in  readiness,  and 
they  did  not  need  to  wait  long  for  us.  The  visions  of 
the  night  were  swept  away,  but  in  their  stead  was  the 
blessed  reality.  It  was  true !  Freedom  once  more ! 
Our  terrible  captivity  ended  !  Oh  joy  !  joy  I — wild 
and  delirioua  JOY  ! 

There  was  a  hurrying  around  in  the  darkness,  illu- 
mined by  the  flashing  of  torch-lights, — a  discordant 
calling  of  names,-  -a  careful  inspection  of  each  man  to 
see  that  nont  went  except  those  who  had  been  chosen  ; 
then,  forming  two  lines  in  the  court-yard,  with  bound- 
ing hearts  we  passed  outward  through  the  dreaded 
portals  of  Castle  Thunder, — the  same  portals  we  had 
passed  inward  more  than  three  months  before! — passed 
out  into  the  cool  but  free  night  air,  and  stood  in  the  dark 
und  silent  street. 

Beside  us  rose  the  tall,  square,  and  ugly  outline  of 
the  prison  we  had  left.  Not  far  away  on  the  left  was 
the  shadowy  form  of  the  twin  prison, — the  Libby, — fit 
emblems,  in  their  frowning  blackness,  of  that  system 
of  oppression  which  had  shed  rivers  of  blood  in  a  vain 
\var,  and  was  soon  to  pass  away  forever.  But  we  could 
not  pause,  to  moralize  even  upon  such  a  theme.  As 
soon  as  all  were  out  of  the  gate,  and  the  column  of 
prisoners  duly  formed,  witli  guards  on  either  hand,  we 
marched  onward  through  the  muddy  streets  for  many 
squares.  There  were  with  us  a  number  of  sick,  who 
were  too  weak  to  walk  unassisted,  and  yet  unwilling 
to  be  left  behind.  As  no  conveyances  were  provided 
for  them,  we  placed  each  of  them  between  two  friends, 
on  whose  shoulders  they  leaned,  and  they  were  thus 
able  to  totter  the  weary  distance.  A  few  had  to  be 
carried  altogether  by  those  who  were  themselves  far 
from  strong,  but  hope,  and  the  exultation  of  liberty, 
made  everything  possible.  After  we  were  seated  in 
the  cars,  which  were  waiting  at  the  depot,  and  had 
>egun  to  glance  around  with  happy  faces  in  the  dim 


336  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

morning  light,  some  Richmond  papers  were  procured. 
Looking  over  them  we  found  the  very  interesting  news 
that  "a  large  number  of  engine  thieves,  bridge-burneis, 
murderers,  robbers,  and  traitors  will  leave  this  morning 
for  the  United  States.  The  Confederacy  may  well 
congratulate  itself  on  this  good  riddance."  The  item 
was  handed  from  one  to  another,  and  we  recognized 
the  names  applied  with  quiet  joy.  Our  congratula- 
tions were  not  less  fervid  than  theirs,  but  we  could 
not  help  thinking  that  the  riddance  might  have  been 
made  long  before ! 

With  the  rising  sun  we  glided  out  of  Richmond, 
and,  passing  fortifications  and  rifle-pits,  soon  readied 
Petersburg.  Then,  with  but  short  detention  and  no 
notable  incidents,  we  continued  on  to  City  Point,  on 
the  James  River, — the  place  of  exchange.  It  was  not 
far  from  noon  when  we  came  within  sight  of  the  most 
glorious  and  fascinating  object  on  the  American  conti- 
nent!— the  "Stars  and  Stripes,"  which  we  had  not  seen 
before  for  eleven  months,  floating  in  proud  beauty  over 
the  truce-boat  "State  of  Maine."  It  was  a  glorious 
vision.  Cheer  after  cheer  arose  from  the  cars.  The 
guard  ordered  the  noise  stopped,  but  the  command  was 
unheeded,  and  the  officers  did  not  try  to  enforce  it. 

The  memories  of  that  hour  are  indistinct  from  their 
very  brightness.  I  seem  to  see  again  the  great  boat  with 
its  beautiful  flag,  the  line  of  Federal  guards  with  their 
bright  blue  uniforms,  the  gray-clad  company  for  whom 
we  were  to  be  exchanged,  and  who  did  not  seem  nearly 
so  glad  as  ourselves,  and  my  own  tattered  and  starved 
companions,  some  three  hundred  in  number.  I  hear 
once  more  the  seemingly  interminable  reading  of  names, 
the  checking  of  lists,  the  wrangling  over  trifles,  and  at 
last  the  order — which  needed  no  repetition — to  go  on 
board.  There  was  still  a  sense  of  trembling  and  appre- 
hension until  the  boat  actually  pushed  off'  and  we  were 
on  our  way  down  the  James. 

Then  our  delight  was  boundless.     We  had  awak- 


SICKNESS  AND   LIBERTY.  337 

ened  from  a  hideous  nightmare-dream  to  find  that  all 
its  shapes  of  horror  and  grinning  fiends  had  passed 
away  and  left  us  in  the  sunlight  once  more.  Our  heart' 
kept  time  with  the  glad  threshing  of  our  wheels  on  thf 
water,  and  sang  within  us,  knowing  that  each  ponder- 
ous stroke  was  placing  a  greater  distance  between  ui 
«uul  our  dreaded  foes. 

The  hearty,  cheerful  welcome  we  met  on  board  was 
no  small  element  in  our  pleasure.  We  were  hungry — 
no  wonder  after  a  year's  fasting — and  we  were  fed, — the 
only  difficulty  being  to  avoid  hurtful  excess.  With  a 
full  supply  of  provisions  and  a  large  tin  cup  of  coffee — I 
tun  not  sure  that  so  good  a  cup  of  coffee  has  been  made 
•unce — I  sat  down  and  ate  slowly,  as  if  I  could  never 
nave  enough.  Then  1  wandered  all  over  the  boat,  from 
the  upper  deck  and  the  cabin  down  to  the  hold,  in  the 
mere  wantonness  of  liberty.  To  go  about  with  no 
guard  watching  me  was  as  strange  as  it  was  delightful. 
The  act  of  going  rtp  to,  and  passing  unchecked  through 
;i  door,  was  a  great  pleasure!  I  saw  little  of  the 
country  through  which  we  passed,  for  the  mind  wa« 
too  busy.  No  emotion  on  earth  has  .the  same  sweep 
and  intensity  as  the  throbbing  sensations  that  rush 
through  the  bosom  of  the  liberated  captive! 

I  have  no  recollection  whatever  of  the  lower  Jajmes, 
of  Fortress  Monroe,  of  the  Chesapeake.  In  all  my 
memoranda  no  word  occurs  of  these  things.  Whether 
the  hours  were  spent  in  sleep  or  waking,  whether  the 
monotony  of  happiness  obliterated  memory,  or  nature, 
weakened  by  disease  and  exhausted  by  too  great  a  mul- 
tiplicity of  sensations,  refused  to  receive  new  impressions, 
I  know  not ;  but  not  until  we  were  near  Washington 
can  I  again  recall  passing  events.  Then  we  thronged 
to  the  vessel's  side,  and  bent  loving  eyes  upon  the 
snowy  front  of  our  beautiful  Capitol.  It  seemed  a  far 
more  grand  and  fitting  emblem  of  our  country's  power 
now  than  when  I  had  first  looked  upon  it,  an  inex- 
fx>rienced  boy,  in  the  far-away  opening  of  the  war, 
v  29 


338  CAPTUR1KG    A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

though  only  two  years  had  elapsed  since  that  time.  IB 
those  two  years  the  whole  country  had  learned  many 
lessons,  and  to  me  they  were  an  age ! 

Here  a  brief  controversy  arose  with  the  commander 
of  the  truce-boat.  He  had  orders  to  forward  all  the 
exchanged  soldiers  to  the  parole  camp  at  Annapolis,  and 
wished  to  send  our  party  with  them.  I  demurred, 
fooling  that  it  was  right  for  us  to  report  at  Washington, 
:it  military  headquarters.  General  Mitchel,  who  sent 
us  forth  upon  our  expedition,  was  dead.  Our  leader, 
Andrews,  was  no  more.  How  many  of  our  officers  had 
fallen  in  the  sanguinary  battles  of  the  West  we  knew 
not;  possibly  we  had  been  reported  as  dead  and  our 
places  filled.  This,  we  afterwards  learned,  was  actually 
the  case.  The  right  place  for  us  to  report,  in  order 
that  everything  might  be  put  in  proper  shape,  was  at 
Washington,  and  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  Hon.  Edwin 
M.  Stanton,  in  person.  Our  case,  as  the  rebels  had 
been  showing  to  our  cost  for  the  past  year,  was  not  that 
of  ordinary  prisoners  of  war,  and  we  thought  ourselves 
entitled  to  claim  the  same  distinction  on  Federal  soil. 
I  therefore  informed  the  commander  that  we  had  urgent 
business  with  Secretary  Stanton,  and  must  be  sent  to 
him.  He  was  a  little  incredulous  at  first,  but  as  soon 
as  I  gave  my  reasons  he  gracefully  yielded. 

Our  reception  in  Washington  was  even  more  cordial 
than  it  had  been  on  the  truce-boat.  We  were  provided 
with  most  comfortable  quarters,  and  literally  feasted  on 
the  best  the  city  afforded.  Secretary  Stanton  asked  UP 
to  go  before  Judge- Advocate-General  Holt  and  there 
give  our  deposition,  that  the  full  particulars  of  what  h'. 
was  pleased  to  consider  our  extraordinary  adventures 
might  be  given  to  the  world  on  an  unquestionable 
basis.  Our  first  visit  to  Judge  Holt  was  merely 
friendly,  at  which  Major- General  Hitchcock  and  Mr 
J.  C.  Wetmore,  Ohio  State  Agent,  were  also  present, 
We  were  invited  to  come  again  on  the  morrow,  when 
we  found  a  justice  of  the  peace  and  a  phonographer  to 


SICKNESS    AND    LIBERTY.  339 

take  our  testimony.  I  was  questioned  first,  and  the 
rxamination  covered  all  the  outlines  of  the  story.  All 
were  sworn  except  Mason,  who  was  unable  from  illness 
to  be  present.  The  result  of  the  examination,  together 
with  Judge  Holt's  comments  upon  it,  were  published 
in  the  Army  and  Navy  Gazette  of  that  date. 

General  Hitchcock  then  accompanied  us  in  our  call 
upon  Secretary  Stanton,  where  we  enjoyed  a  most  de- 
lightful interview.  At  its  close  he  brought  out  six 
medals  which  had  been  prepared  according  to  a  recent 
act  of  Congress  and  left  to  his  disposal.  He  said  that 
they  were  the  first  given  to  private  soldiers  in  this-  war. 
Jacob  Parrot,  the  boy  who  had  endured  the  terrible 
beating,  received  as  he  well  deserved,  the  first  one. 

Secretary  Stanton  next  presented  us  one  hundred 
dollars  each  from  the  secret  service  fund  as  pocket- 
money,  and  gave  orders  for  payment  to  us  of  all  ar- 
rearages, and  for  refunding  the  full  value  of  the 
money  and  arms  taken  from  us  at  our  capture.  Thin 
was  not  all.  He  tendered  us,  each  one,  a  commission 
in  the  regular  army,  and  on  our  expressing  a  prefer 
ence  for  the  volunteer  service,  he  requested  Governor 
Tod,  of  Ohio,  to  give  u  equivalent  promotion  in  our 
own  regiments.  These  commissions  were  promptly 
given,  but  through  ill  health,  some  of  our  number,  my- 
self included,  were  not  abio  to  be  mustered  as  officers. 

Stauton  praised  the  bravery  of  Mitchel  in  the  high- 
est terms,  and  stated  that  he  had  been  aware  of  our 
expedition,  but,  until  the  escape  of  our  eight  comrades 
in  October,  had  supposed  that  we  had  all  perished ; 
that  he  had  then  threatened  retaliation  in  case  any 
more  of  us  were  executed,  and  had  demanded  to  know 
the  reason  for  the  execution  of  the  seven  who  had  been 
put  to  death.  It  was  answered  that  the  Confederate 
government  had  no  knowledge  of  the  death  of  any 
member  of  the  party.  Since  that  time  he  had  bee& 
most  anxious  to  effect  our  exchange,  and  by  special 
effort  bad  at  last  succeeded  in  arranging  it. 


,140  CAPTURING   A    LOCOMOTIVE. 

We  were  then  escorted  to  the  Executive  Mansion, 
and  had  a  most  pleasing  interview  with  President  Lin- 
coln. We  told  him  many  incidents  of  prison  experi- 
ence and  received  his  sympathizing  comments  in  return. 

After  taking  our  leave  of  the  President  we  received 
transportation  at  government  expense  to  our  homes. 
The  joy  of  our  reception  in  our  own  Ohio  and  among 
our  own  kindred  I  will  not  attempt  to  describe. 


CENTRAL  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 

University  of  California,  San  Diego 

DATE  DUE 


DEC  1  4  1982 

DEC  0  8  1982 

a  39 

UCSD  Libr. 

